Stories Behind the Songs
by Frank LaSpina
Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs came to be written or how the artists who made them hits rose to fame? The answers to these questions are often surprising and fascinating. Host Frank LaSpina tells the tales through audio highlights from his popular series of Las Vegas stage shows performed by the amazingly talented students of the Musical Arts Scholarship Program. These youngsters are truly the stars of tomorrow!
Episodes
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Episode 35: Cole Porter
Find out how Cole Porter had to rewrite two of his greatest hits, one bowing to political correctness and the other due to a notorious kidnapping. Another of his standards was, darkly, inspired by a lynching! Get the stories behind these songs.
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Episode 34: Sinatra - Behind the Scenes
Performed by the vocalist People Magazine dubbed “The World’s Greatest Singing Impressionist”, Bob Anderson, with commentary by Frank Sinatra’s long-time conductor, Vincent Falcone, this is a treasure.
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Episode 33: Elvis - The Stage Biography
Even the most die-hard Elvis fan is bound to learn something they didn’t know about The King and his music in this edition of “Stories behind the Songs”.
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Episode 32: The Beatles Bash
What Beatles classic was originally called “Scrambled Eggs”? How did they arrive at the unusual title “Norwegian Wood? Why did Ringo insist the lyric be changed on one their hits? These and other surprising stories behind the songs.
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Episode 31: Keyboard Classics
Did you know the biggest-selling pianist of all time aspired to be a boxer but had to quit the ring after his nose was broken three times? Another renowned keyboard artist was told his latest release was “too soft” to be a pop hit but it wound up knocking the Beatles out of the #1 spot. These and...
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Episode 30: The Sunny Side of Life
Some of our most uplifting songs of positivity had unlikely origins. One sprang from a bout of insomnia, another from a dreary rainstorm. All as told by the next Michael Buble, Tommy Ward.
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Episode 29: The Wonderful World of Disney Songs
The Disney Studio has won 8 Best Song Academy Awards. One of their biggest hits was - believe it or not- inspired by the polio vaccine. Find out which along with other surprising fun facts.
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Episode 28: Kenny Rogers
Did you know Kenny Rogers was a world-ranked doubles tennis player and also designed major airports? That’s just the beginning of the surprises you’ll learn about this man of many talents. Special guest star: Glenn Williams.
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Episode 27: The Sisterhood of Song 2
By popular demand, yet more surprising stories about 16 other African-American female singers who made their marks including a superstar who claims never to have seen the Oscar-nominated movie about her life and a multiple Grammy award winner whose famous father publicly hoped she would not…
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Episode 25: The Sisterhood of Song
The surprising stories behind 16 African-American singers who became household names. One grew up on the streets in a cardboard box while another’s uncle was an advisor to the President of the United States.
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Episode 25: Come Blow Your Horn
What famous trumpeter became part owner of the New Orleans Saints football team? You’ll get the answer and other surprising fun facts about a dozen prominent horn players with their signature songs being recreated by Bill King.
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Episode 24: Doris Day
Doris Day was on her way to a dance competition when she and her partner were hit by a train. Bedridden, her mother arranged for singing lessons as therapy, of sorts, and by 19 she had a #1 national hit, going on to be Hollywood’s all-time box office queen.
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Episode 23: Ray Charles
An unknown Ray Charles was playing a 4 hour dance and ran out of material with 10 minutes left to go. He made a song up, on the fly, that turned him into a national name. What was it? That’s why you listen, right?
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Episode 22: The Carpenters
In 1968, The Carpenters turned down a nearly million dollar (in today’s money) TV ad contract to roll the dice with a fledgling record label. Their gamble paid off as they became the most successful music act of the 70s.
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Episode 21: Happy Days
Hits featured on the long-running TV series of same name, including a smash Elvis changed one word on and his manager demanded The King get a writing credit. As the Fonz would say, “Aaaaay!!”
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Episode 20: Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett narrowly escaped death in World War II, lost a major TV talent competition to another famous singer and overcame a cocaine addiction to have one of the longest and most honored careers in music history. Prepare to be astounded by 85 year old guest star, Vince Mastro.
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Episode 19: Billie Holiday
Sold into prostitution, at 14, by her own mother, Billie Holiday overcomes obstacles - not the least of which, racism - to become one of the most influential singers in pop music history but meets a tragic end.
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Episode 18: The History of Harmony
When a teenage band leader disagreed with his dad at an early recording session, he fired his father as manager! The record went to #1 and the band became a legend. Who was it? It’s all part of The History of Harmony.
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Episode 17: A Way With Words
One of the most recorded songs of the 20th century was written by a 23 year old girl after she overheard a couple of modest means looking longingly through the window of Tiffany’s. That girl wound up on a postage stamp. Find out who she was and the many other smashes she wrote.
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Episode 16: The Joy of Sax
Half the band had gone home when it dawned on their saxophonist they forgot to record a B-side for their single. What he improvised stayed at #1 five weeks! Just one of the surprising stories about the greatest instrumental sax hits of all-time.
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Episode 15: Duets
Some famous duet partners did not even meet until AFTER their record was a hit. Just one of many surprises is this edition of Stories behind the Songs: “Duets”.
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Episode 14: Johnny Cash
Motivated to success by the gruesome death of his brother, the poor boy from Arkansas grew up to the friend of Presidents and his autobiography sold more than a million copies!
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Episode 13: The Sopranos
No, not the mob family but rather the fascinating stories of how such singers as Julie Andrews, Sarah Brightman and Jackie Evancho became household names, as sung by 16 year old phenom, Jessica Plummer.
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Episode 12: A Tribute to Soul Train
What famous singer, known as “The Black Elvis”, is said to have had 10 children by the age of 16? Get on the “Soul Train” and find out!
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Episode 11: Country Classics
The surprising stories behind some of the biggest-ever crossover hits. All of them Top 10, if not #1, on both the country AND pop charts.
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Episode 10: Billy Joel
The kid who hated taking his piano lessons grows up be the third biggest-selling solo artist of all-time and will forever be known as “The Piano Man”.
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Episode 9: Judy Garland
Prepare to be amazed by a powerhouse 11 year old recreating Judy’s biggest numbers....
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Episode 8: Paul Akna
He was a star at 15 and went on to write “My Way”. Hear His incredible rise....
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Episode 7: Aretha Franklin
The most charted female in history actually failed at her first label. And there was much more to overcome....
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Episode 6: Tom Jones
The poor son of a coal miner sells 100 million records and goes on to be a British knight. Hear the improbable story.
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Episode 5: Diana Ross
Proclaimed “The Female Entertainer of the Century”, Diana Ross’s path to stardom was not without its twists and turns.
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Episode 4: Stevie Wonder
One of Stevie Wonder’s biggest hits was a tune he wrote then stuck in a drawer and forgot about for FIVE YEARS! Which one? Take a listen....
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Episode 3: Barbra Streisand
Everybody - including her own mother - told her she’d never make it in show business. Hear how she proved them all wrong.
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Episode 2: Sam Cooke
Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs came to be written or how the artists who made them hits rose to fame? The answers to these questions are often surprising and fascinating. Host Frank LaSpina tells the tales through audio highlights from his popular series of Las Vegas stage shows...
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Episode 1: Carole King
Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs came to be written or how the artists who made them hits rose to fame? The answers to these questions are often surprising and fascinating. Host Frank LaSpina tells the tales through audio highlights from his popular series of Las Vegas stage shows...
About this show
Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs came to be written or how the artists who made them hits rose to fame? The answers to these questions are often surprising and fascinating. Host Frank LaSpina tells the tales through audio highlights from his popular series of Las Vegas stage shows performed by the amazingly talented students of the Musical Arts Scholarship Program. These youngsters are truly the stars of tomorrow!
Hosted by
Frank LaSpina