Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
American singing star, known for her distinctive voice and classic songs.
On the island
Eight records
Camerata Contemporary Chamber Group
It's just such a beautiful peaceful mood that, um, I thought it w would have a very calming effect. It does for me at home, so why shouldn't it do the same on my island?
The Shadow of Your Smile (Main Theme from The Sandpiper)
Well, I love the the entire score by Johnny Mandel of the Sandpiper, which includes in the main theme is the uh The Shadow of Your Smile.
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Ernest Ansermet
Oh, I see all kinds of beautiful pictures in it and and it has and I hear the birds and I I love trees.
Zion hört die Wächter singen (from Cantata BWV 140)
I like Bach a lot and um well there are three that I like and of course I have to make this choice, don't I? ... But I think in making the choice finally it would be Zion Hort.
The Walk to the Paradise GardenFavourite
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
Walk to Paradise Garden, Delius, is um something that I used to play when um when I was waiting for my daughter to be born. And um I hoped I would instill some love of good music. and of beauty, and I think This Walk to Paradise Garden rather says it.
Miles Davis (arranged by Gil Evans)
Gil Evans did the arranging and uh the album is called Miles Ahead. I've chosen the maize of cuddies.
Well, I've chosen, um, one of my favorite people. and a song that he wrote and sang.
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (Third Movement)
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
My last is um Brahm's third. And um Some place in this piece I found where where they found the song, the jazz piece called Hucklebuck.
In conversation
Presenter asks
3:11Do you come from a musical family?
Well, my mother was very interested in music, and so was my father. I think my mother was more serious about it. Uh however, I didn't have much opportunity to know because she passed away when I was four.
Presenter asks
3:48What happened when you went off to Hollywood to see what turned up there?
All the starvation. It was um quite a unique experience. My friend worked in a restaurant as a cashier. She was from a very fine family and it was during the very end of the Depression and this cafe was in the in a basement and it was flooded. So she was out of work. And when I auditioned I had one dime left. And that was between me and it. And they hired me, thank God.
Presenter asks
7:32How did Benny Goodman come into your life?
Well, I was singing in Chicago and Mrs. Benny Goodman, Alice Goodman. Came into the buttery at the Ambassador in Chicago. At that time Helen Helen Forrest was leaving uh Benny's orchestra, so she convinced Benny to come and listen to me, and I watched him because I was such a fan. And he had a very cross look on his face, so I thought, Oh, dear, he doesn't like me. and it turned out to be it was a thoughtful look, because he called the next day. And um He said, Would you like to sing with my orchestra? And it was just like that. I had no rehearsal. And I had to sing in Helen Forrest's keys.
The keepsakes
The book
Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood
Mary Strong
Well, immediately I would choose a book which is anonymous but it's edited by Mary Strong and it's called Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood. And it has very short little pieces in it. ... really inspirational and strengthening and um I've given this book to many people and it has helped them through great Times of trouble And you open it and it's somehow a different thing every time. It's just it's just what you need.
The luxury
a huge picture of all my loved ones (laminated)
I thought of a huge picture of all my loved ones. But it would have to be laminated so it wouldn't uh be weathered and erode and so forth.
Presenter asks
11:53How do you feel about singing with bands as training for singers?
I think it's extremely important. Uh you learn so much from the musicians. Benny was a very hard disciplinarian. And uh I respect him for that. And I've learned a lot from that.
Presenter asks
14:42Are you a nervous person?
No, I was then. And I can't imagine why. Why why w would I have been nervous on radio? I don't know. But I was. It was just electric, electric, electric.
“Any place they'd let me sing, I'd sing.”
“I think it's extremely important. Uh you learn so much from the musicians. Benny was a very hard disciplinarian. And uh I respect him for that. And I've learned a lot from that.”
“Well, I thank you, Roy. I but that just means paying attention to detail, doesn't it?”