Red Robinson's Legends

It was 1775 and Paul Revere rode his horse yelling “The British are coming!” In the 1960’s another Paul Revere noticed that the British Invasion was starting all over again. He rode the charts and was successful while many bands collapsed during the invasion.

The band was discovered by jock Roger Hart of Portland’s KISN. In 1962 they had just experienced breakout success thanks to their regional hit "Louie Louie" (written by Richard Berry in 1955, and covered by The Kingsmen in 1963). We flew them in to Vancouver to entertain at the annual C-FUN Night at Kits Showboat, an outdoor theatre that has showcased local and international talent for over eighty years. That night the streets were so choked with traffic we had to bring the band onto the beach by barge. Paul never forgot that incident.

Paul Revere and the Raiders were the first rock group signed to Columbia Records. Their first national hit was "Steppin' Out" in September 1965. Lead singer Mark Lindsay and the Raiders brought about some of America's hardest Rock to be heard in a decade.The visual effect of the group was enhanced by their American revolutionary war uniforms. TV exposure was helpful in pushing their image across to the young. Dick Clark's TV show "Where The Action Is!" gave them the added advantage. For the next six years they forged ahead with some very strong material: "Kicks", "Hungry", "Good Thing", Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" and their biggest hit, their cover of John D. Loudermilk's "Indian Reservation", in 1971.

In August 1986, Paul Revere and the Raiders rocked the Legends of Rock'n'Roll show at EXPO 86 in Vancouver with fellow Northwest music favourites the Ventures and Merrilee Rush. That's where we sat down to record this interview.

I also saw Paul in 2010, when I took a busload of listeners to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri. Ever gracious, Paul invited the whole group backstage for autographs and photos. Paul’s last appearance in Vancouver was in March 2013 at the Red Robinson Show Theatre, where he signed the celebrity wall downstairs. He had previously appeared with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers during the theatre’s grand opening in 2008. Ace photographer Steve Pesant captured Paul performing in this outstanding image. Thanks, Steve!

My last encounter with Paul came during a 2013 trip on the Where the Action Is! Rock & Roll Cruise, a Caribbean travel excursion organized by Concerts at Sea. He performed well but struggled noticeably here and there; his manager later disclosed to me the sad news that he had brain cancer. Paul was an unforgettable character, always having fun onstage and off. He died October 15, 2014.

One glaring omission in this story: Paul Revere and the Raiders have yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite scoring seven chart hits between 1965 and 1967. Paul Revere and the Raiders sold nearly 50 million records over the course of their career. They had 15 consecutive hit singles, 6 of which were top 10, four RIAA certified gold albums, one gold single ("Let Me") and one platinum single ("Indian Reservation").

The Raiders appeared on over 500 episodes of ABC's Where the Action Is. They hosted It’s Happening, Happening ’68 and Happening 69, also on ABC. They appeared on many other TV shows including Ed Sullivan, The Smothers Brothers, Hollywood Palace, and as themselves in a Batman episode "Hizzonner the Penguin", making Paul Revere and The Raiders the most televised musical group in the world.

Three Raiders songs were included in Quentin Tarantino's blockbuster 2019 movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".

According to the RRHF, "Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll." Let's hope they recognize the tremendous contribution Paul Revere and the Raiders made, and soon!

On June 27, 1956, Bill Haley and the Comets played Vancouver's first real rock'n'roll concert at Kerrisdale Arena. Almost forgotten in this day and age, but in a historic sense Bill Haley was the Granddaddy of rock'n'roll.

It’s hard to put a finger on the first rock'n'roll record, but there is no doubt Bill Haley made it happen all over the world. The novel part of Bill Haley's music ― its rhythm ― was the dominant factor that made rock'n'roll. At Bill's first session with Decca, he recorded "Rock Around the Clock" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll", which were to transform the concept of what popular music could be. "Rock Around the Clock" was featured in a youth-oriented movie called "Blackboard Jungle" and all hell broke loose. This movie and the song "Rock Around the Clock" became the focal points of the young and gave greater thrust to the popularity of this new hybrid of blues and country music.

Red remembers: "The show had been sold out for weeks before his arrival. Local favourites Les Vogt and the Prowlers opened the show. I stepped out on to that stage and felt the electricity in the air immediately. I thanked Jack Cullen for asking me to MC the show and introduced Bill Haley. The screams started just after I said 'And now the man you've been waiting for...' I thought the roof was going to be ripped off by the sheer weight of the noise. While Bill played through his set I waited backstage for my first interview with the man who brought it all together.

Bill Haley was an utter surprise to me. He was kind and friendly, he was aware of my nervousness in his presence, but made me feel comfortable instantly. We talked for about an hour, had a few photographs taken together (by renowned Vancouver photographer John McGinnis) and he vanished into the night like so many of the stars I was to meet over the years. Those magic moments together will always be with me. I don't mean that I was in a swoon like a teenage girl; I knew then that here was a man of significance in the history of North American music. I knew within my soul that I was part of his story and he was part of mine.

One of the most fascinating stories from that meeting was his almost prophetic offering to me. Bill said in the midst of the conversation, 'Red, we have just about reached the end of our time in the spotlight.' I could not understand this thinking; he was at the height of his career and the hits just kept on coming. Yet, he insisted that he and the Comets were about to be overtaken by a young man from Memphis that he called 'The Hillbilly Cat'. Haley said, 'Red, the next giant of rock'n'roll is going to be Elvis Presley. He's got the looks, the talent and the magic to make him very, very important in the months and years ahead.'

Bill Haley was right. You know that, I know that, but in that dressing room at the Kerrisdale Arena during that hot summer night in 1956 standing there with the world's number one rock'n'roll artist, it was hard to conceive of anyone bigger than Bill Haley and the Comets."

Bill and Red met again just over a decade later at Vancouver's Marco Polo restaurant where Bill gave what Red felt was one of the best interviews he'd done. Bill was articulate about this music and music in general. In this episode, Bill tells Red how he got started: the origins of the term "rock'n'roll"; his early success, how he managed his money, and how he kept his enthusiasm.

On June 27, 1956, Bill Haley and the Comets played Vancouver's first real rock'n'roll concert at Kerrisdale Arena. Almost forgotten in this day and age, but in a historic sense Bill Haley was the Granddaddy of rock'n'roll.

It’s hard to put a finger on the first rock'n'roll record, but there is no doubt Bill Haley made it happen all over the world. The novel part of Bill Haley's music ― its rhythm ― was the dominant factor that made rock'n'roll. At Bill's first session with Decca, he recorded "Rock Around the Clock" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll", which were to transform the concept of what popular music could be. "Rock Around the Clock" was featured in a youth-oriented movie called "Blackboard Jungle" and all hell broke loose. This movie and the song "Rock Around the Clock" became the focal points of the young and gave greater thrust to the popularity of this new hybrid of blues and country music.

Red remembers: "The show had been sold out for weeks before his arrival. Local favourites Les Vogt and the Prowlers opened the show. I stepped out on to that stage and felt the electricity in the air immediately. I thanked Jack Cullen for asking me to MC the show and introduced Bill Haley. The screams started just after I said 'And now the man you've been waiting for...' I thought the roof was going to be ripped off by the sheer weight of the noise. While Bill played through his set I waited backstage for my first interview with the man who brought it all together.

Bill Haley was an utter surprise to me. He was kind and friendly, he was aware of my nervousness in his presence, but made me feel comfortable instantly. We talked for about an hour, had a few photographs taken together (by renowned Vancouver photographer John McGinnis) and he vanished into the night like so many of the stars I was to meet over the years. Those magic moments together will always be with me. I don't mean that I was in a swoon like a teenage girl; I knew then that here was a man of significance in the history of North American music. I knew within my soul that I was part of his story and he was part of mine.

One of the most fascinating stories from that meeting was his almost prophetic offering to me. Bill said in the midst of the conversation, 'Red, we have just about reached the end of our time in the spotlight.' I could not understand this thinking; he was at the height of his career and the hits just kept on coming. Yet, he insisted that he and the Comets were about to be overtaken by a young man from Memphis that he called 'The Hillbilly Cat'. Haley said, 'Red, the next giant of rock'n'roll is going to be Elvis Presley. He's got the looks, the talent and the magic to make him very, very important in the months and years ahead.'

Bill Haley was right. You know that, I know that, but in that dressing room at the Kerrisdale Arena during that hot summer night in 1956 standing there with the world's number one rock'n'roll artist, it was hard to conceive of anyone bigger than Bill Haley and the Comets."

Bill and Red met again just over a decade later at Vancouver's Marco Polo restaurant where Bill gave what Red felt was one of the best interviews he'd done. Bill was articulate about this music and music in general.

In this episode, Bill records two albums in Mexico; the high price of success; touring the Pacific and Europe and its effect on him and the Comets.

On June 27, 1956, Bill Haley and the Comets played Vancouver's first real rock'n'roll concert at Kerrisdale Arena. Almost forgotten in this day and age, but in a historic sense Bill Haley was the Granddaddy of rock'n'roll.

It’s hard to put a finger on the first rock'n'roll record, but there is no doubt Bill Haley made it happen all over the world. The novel part of Bill Haley's music ― its rhythm ― was the dominant factor that made rock'n'roll. At Bill's first session with Decca, he recorded "Rock Around the Clock" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll", which were to transform the concept of what popular music could be. "Rock Around the Clock" was featured in a youth-oriented movie called "Blackboard Jungle" and all hell broke loose. This movie and the song "Rock Around the Clock" became the focal points of the young and gave greater thrust to the popularity of this new hybrid of blues and country music.

Red remembers: "The show had been sold out for weeks before his arrival. Local favourites Les Vogt and the Prowlers opened the show. I stepped out on to that stage and felt the electricity in the air immediately. I thanked Jack Cullen for asking me to MC the show and introduced Bill Haley. The screams started just after I said 'And now the man you've been waiting for...' I thought the roof was going to be ripped off by the sheer weight of the noise. While Bill played through his set I waited backstage for my first interview with the man who brought it all together.

Bill Haley was an utter surprise to me. He was kind and friendly, he was aware of my nervousness in his presence, but made me feel comfortable instantly. We talked for about an hour, had a few photographs taken together (by renowned Vancouver photographer John McGinnis) and he vanished into the night like so many of the stars I was to meet over the years. Those magic moments together will always be with me. I don't mean that I was in a swoon like a teenage girl; I knew then that here was a man of significance in the history of North American music. I knew within my soul that I was part of his story and he was part of mine.

One of the most fascinating stories from that meeting was his almost prophetic offering to me. Bill said in the midst of the conversation, 'Red, we have just about reached the end of our time in the spotlight.' I could not understand this thinking; he was at the height of his career and the hits just kept on coming. Yet, he insisted that he and the Comets were about to be overtaken by a young man from Memphis that he called 'The Hillbilly Cat'. Haley said, 'Red, the next giant of rock'n'roll is going to be Elvis Presley. He's got the looks, the talent and the magic to make him very, very important in the months and years ahead.'

Bill Haley was right. You know that, I know that, but in that dressing room at the Kerrisdale Arena during that hot summer night in 1956 standing there with the world's number one rock'n'roll artist, it was hard to conceive of anyone bigger than Bill Haley and the Comets."

Bill and Red met again just over a decade later at Vancouver's Marco Polo restaurant where Bill gave what Red felt was one of the best interviews he'd done. Bill was articulate about this music and music in general.

In this episode, Red and Bill talk about all the hits, starting with Rock Around The Clock and finishing up with the story of Crazy Man, Crazy; Bill moves into the Sixties to talk about his foray into Spanish music.

Wink Martindale's career spans six decades. His first TV series was the WHBQ-TV children’s show Wink Martindale of the Mars Patrol. As a Memphis deejay and host of the TV show Teenage Dance Party, he is credited for giving Elvis Presley his first major break. He's best known as a game show host ("Tic Tac Dough", "Trivial Pursuit") and television producer (Vancouver-based "Second Honeymoon").

Wink and I met in Nashville in 2001 at Brenda Lee's induction into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. When the Red Robinson Show Theatre opened in 2006, Wink and his wife Sandy were honoured guests. That same year he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wink and Sandy joined us at Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition in 2008 for our annual Salute to Elvis. The PNE fairgoers appreciated Wink and so do I. He was kind enough to guest on my final radio show on CISL/Vancouver in 2017. He is a very special man. I recently told him "Wink, except for the outfit, you really haven't changed that much since the early days in Memphis." (Photo: Special Collections, University of Memphis Libraries)

In this interview, Wink tells Terry where he got his unusual name; the success of "Tic Tac Dough", "Gambit" and other TV game shows; his foray into the restaurant business; why he hasn't pursued an acting career; the resurgence of "standards" on radio and the "Music Of Your Life" format on KMPC as contemporary artists cover the classics; what's new in his career. Recorded in 1984 in Los Angeles.

It's the book with its own radio show, and Wink Martindale is on the phone from Los Angeles!

Red Robinson: The Last Broadcast, is available now from friesenpress.com, chaptersindigo.ca, amazon.com, amazon.ca, barnesandnoble.com, play.google.com and books.apple.com

"The Last Broadcast" with Red's special guests Pat O'Day and Bruce Allen aired on CISL650/Vancouver on August 27, 2017.

"As Robinson smiles, Martindale says, 'Someone asked me yesterday, 'Do you ever think about retiring?’ And I think about Art Linkletter’s line and reply: 'Retire from what? Hell, I'm not tired.’

What Robinson thinks about this remark is anyone’s guess, but speculation is cut short by Red stating, 'Wink, I appreciate all of this, the great stories: that’s what radio used to be all about.'

'Yes. We used to be able to get on the air and talk like that. It didn't matter whether it took five seconds, or five minutes. We would tell a story and tie it to the music, and unfortunately these good days are gone forever.'

In this episode, Wink tells the story of his 1959 million-seller 'Deck of Cards', and working with Vancouver broadcaster Wayne Cox on a couple of TV game shows.

In this 1981 interview with Vancouver broadcaster Terry Moore, Kirk shares the secret to staying in shape; the changing role of movie actors; working with Johnny Cash; playing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on Broadway; reflections on his early movies and comments on the Oscars.

Kirk's movie career spanned six decades. He was best knowh for Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), and Seven Days in May (1964). He is on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema. Kirk Douglas died in February 2020 at the age of 103.

In this 1981 interview with Vancouver broadcaster Terry Moore, Kirk talks about his upcoming project The Man From Snowy River; how he handles money; the perception of Hollywood as "Tinseltown"; winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom; how his background prepared him for success and his personal take on some of his fellow actors.

Kirk's movie career spanned six decades. He was best knowh for Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), and Seven Days in May (1964). He is on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema. Kirk Douglas died in February 2020 at the age of 103.

Carl recalls the early crossover success of "Blue Suede Shoes"; his 1956 car accident and subsequent recovery; the story behind Elvis' cover of "Blue Suede Shoes"; on a 1964 UK tour with Chuck Berry, Carl meets "them long-haired boys", the Beatles.

Recorded at the EXPO 86 "Legends of Rock'n'Roll" show in Vancouver in 1986. Carl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Sun Records founder Sam Phillips in 1987. Carl Perkins died in January 1988 in Jackson, Tennessee. He was 65.

Carl visits the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios and records "Honey Don't", "Matchbox" and "Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby"; his enduring friendship with Johnny Cash; how "four old broken down rockabillies" recorded the "Class of '55" album; a chance to work with Rick Nelson is cut short by tragedy; Carl wraps up with some inspirational advice.

Recorded at the EXPO 86 "Legends of Rock'n'Roll" show in Vancouver in 1986. Carl was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Sun Records founder Sam Phillips in 1987. Carl Perkins died in January 1988 in Jackson, Tennessee. He was 65.