Leo Green Remembers...

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20170529

Roy Orbison looked more like a school teacher than a star and yet he influenced so many - Jackson Brown, James Taylor, KD Lang, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles. With a personal life drenched in tragedy, his is a compelling & gripping story. Leo Green traces out how Roy went from humble country beginnings, to becoming one of the most influential songwriters and singers in Pop history. As a Songwriter, Roy had an unusual & individual writing style that hadn't really been heard in pop music before; as a singer, he was also unlike anyone else - legend has it that only Roy and Enrico Caruso were the only 20th century tenors capable of hitting E over high C! Songs to include: Only The Lonely, In Dreams, Crying, Uptown, Blue Angel, It's Over, Running Scared. Mean Woman Blues, Ooby Dooby, Blue Bayou, Claudette, Pretty Woman, I Drove All Night, Love Hurts, Walk On, You Got It.

Roy Orbison came from humble country beginnings to become a star, let's find out how.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

A Celebration Of A Great Entertainer

20161226

The King of the Road, Dean's success is even more incredible when you consider what he had to go through to achieve worldwide success - it did not come easy or quickly for the man born as Dino Crocetti. After a brutally challenging upbringing, Dean didn't have the luxury of just being able to break into show business; he had to provide for his family in whatever way he could - he boxed for money, he sold lottery tickets, he worked as an illegal card dealer and croupier in unlicensed gambling joints and while all this was going on, he jumped up at nightclubs whenever he could to sing with bands and eventually joining a touring band when he was 21. Leo Green shows us that once people heard 'Dino', there was no stopping him - MCA signed him up, he was given his own Radio Show, and soon everyone in show business was knocking on his door.

Everybody loves Dean Martin, actor, singer, Rat Packer, what's not to like, what a life.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

A Celebration Of One Of The Greatest Voices Of The 20th Century

20161227

As well any number of era defining hit records, Peggy Lee was also an actress, but how many of us know that she was also a songwriter which was virtually unheard of for vocal stars of her era. She wrote I Love Being Here With You, He's A Tramp, There'll Be Another Spring and many others, as well as contributing to the lyrics of her massive hit Fever.

As one of eight children, Peggy's childhood was challenging - with an abusive alcoholic stepmother, Peggy was desperate to develop her singing career to escape home life and by 17, was on the road singing with big bands, ending up with the world famous Benny Goodman Orchestra whilst still a teenager. She went on to influence all the great voices and many of the great entertainers that followed. This is her story.

Singer, actress, songwriter - this is the story of a musical trailblazer.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

A Celebration Of One Of The Most Versatile Singers In The History Of Popular Music

20160328

Bobby Darin was the very first artist to have more than one musical identity - to some he was a Rock 'n' Roll Star, to others he was the Smooth Swinging Crooner. Some regard him as one of the great Country singers and his Americana Protest Songs and Folk recordings remain some of the finest of the genre. He was also one of the first Artists to set up his own Record label purely to release his own, self-penned material.

Leo Green re traces the life of a performer who famously said ' I'd like to be a legend by the time I'm 25' . Darin suffered chronic ill health and a was part of a family tree that hid his true origins for decades The woman he thought was his mother turned out to be his Grandmother and the girl he though was his sister, was eventually revealed to be his Mother. Nobody knows who Darin's father was, but we do know that one of his Grandparents was of Italian descent and was English.

Darin's legacy includes some of greatest recordings of rock n roll, rhythm and blues, country, folk and standard and show tunes ever made and his amazing professional life became a template for everyone that followed.

Leo Green celebrates one of the most versatile singers in the history of popular music.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

A Celebration Of The Voice Of Julie London

20160502

She insisted that she couldn't really sing, she didn't like touring and she thought show business was utterly ridiculous, especially when the photo shot for an album cover took longer than recording the music inside. She acted on the screen and TV but it was her singing that was to propel her to a stardom, however reluctantly. Whatever she thought about herself and her talents she remains the owner of one of the greatest and most emotive voices of all time.

She was something of a reluctant star but her unique voice made success inevitable.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

Celebrating One Of The Greatest Entertainers, Sammy Davis Jnr

20151229

20161228 (R2)

Admired by Fred Astaire for his dancing, by Frank Sinatra for his singing and by Dr Martin Luther King for his peaceful approach to the American Civil Rights movement, Sammy Davis was unlike any other entertainer - anyone who ever witnessed him perform, never forgot what they saw.

His songs provide the perfect soundtrack to his life and times, as told by musician and broadcaster Leo Green who has had a life-long love of this unique performer. We hear from Sammy himself as well as friends and colleagues and enjoy the many musical genres Sammy conquered on his journey to the summit of the entertainment industry which was a harder road to travel than any of his contemporaries.

None of the others in the Rat Pack such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin had to contend with the challenges he faced - the brutal racism; the bleak poverty; regular death threats; the loss of an eye; a battle with alcohol and drugs. And yet, despite all these challenges, he covered more ground than anyone else in the industry, establishing himself as the greatest all-round entertainer the world has ever seen, or possibly will ever see.

Leo Green tells the story of Sammy Davis Jr.

Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	20170529		Roy Orbison looked more like a school teacher than a star and yet he influenced so many - Jackson Brown, James Taylor, KD Lang, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles. With a personal life drenched in tragedy, his is a compelling & gripping story. Leo Green traces out how Roy went from humble country beginnings, to becoming one of the most influential songwriters and singers in Pop history. As a Songwriter, Roy had an unusual & individual writing style that hadn't really been heard in pop music before; as a singer, he was also unlike anyone else - legend has it that only Roy and Enrico Caruso were the only 20th century tenors capable of hitting E over high C! Songs to include: Only The Lonely, In Dreams, Crying, Uptown, Blue Angel, It's Over, Running Scared. Mean Woman Blues, Ooby Dooby, Blue Bayou, Claudette, Pretty Woman, I Drove All Night, Love Hurts, Walk On, You Got It. Roy Orbison came from humble country beginnings to become a star, let's find out how. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures
A Celebration Of A Great Entertainer	20161226		The King of the Road, Dean's success is even more incredible when you consider what he had to go through to achieve worldwide success - it did not come easy or quickly for the man born as Dino Crocetti. After a brutally challenging upbringing, Dean didn't have the luxury of just being able to break into show business; he had to provide for his family in whatever way he could - he boxed for money, he sold lottery tickets, he worked as an illegal card dealer and croupier in unlicensed gambling joints and while all this was going on, he jumped up at nightclubs whenever he could to sing with bands and eventually joining a touring band when he was 21. Leo Green shows us that once people heard 'Dino', there was no stopping him - MCA signed him up, he was given his own Radio Show, and soon everyone in show business was knocking on his door. Everybody loves Dean Martin, actor, singer, Rat Packer, what's not to like, what a life. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures
A Celebration Of One Of The Greatest Voices Of The 20th Century	20161227		As well any number of era defining hit records, Peggy Lee was also an actress, but how many of us know that she was also a songwriter which was virtually unheard of for vocal stars of her era. She wrote I Love Being Here With You, He's A Tramp, There'll Be Another Spring and many others, as well as contributing to the lyrics of her massive hit Fever. As one of eight children, Peggy's childhood was challenging - with an abusive alcoholic stepmother, Peggy was desperate to develop her singing career to escape home life and by 17, was on the road singing with big bands, ending up with the world famous Benny Goodman Orchestra whilst still a teenager. She went on to influence all the great voices and many of the great entertainers that followed. This is her story. Singer, actress, songwriter - this is the story of a musical trailblazer. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures
A Celebration Of One Of The Most Versatile Singers In The History Of Popular Music	20160328		Bobby Darin was the very first artist to have more than one musical identity - to some he was a Rock 'n' Roll Star, to others he was the Smooth Swinging Crooner. Some regard him as one of the great Country singers and his Americana Protest Songs and Folk recordings remain some of the finest of the genre. He was also one of the first Artists to set up his own Record label purely to release his own, self-penned material. Leo Green re traces the life of a performer who famously said ' I'd like to be a legend by the time I'm 25' . Darin suffered chronic ill health and a was part of a family tree that hid his true origins for decades The woman he thought was his mother turned out to be his Grandmother and the girl he though was his sister, was eventually revealed to be his Mother. Nobody knows who Darin's father was, but we do know that one of his Grandparents was of Italian descent and was English. Darin's legacy includes some of greatest recordings of rock n roll, rhythm and blues, country, folk and standard and show tunes ever made and his amazing professional life became a template for everyone that followed. Leo Green celebrates one of the most versatile singers in the history of popular music. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures
A Celebration Of The Voice Of Julie London	20160502		She insisted that she couldn't really sing, she didn't like touring and she thought show business was utterly ridiculous, especially when the photo shot for an album cover took longer than recording the music inside. She acted on the screen and TV but it was her singing that was to propel her to a stardom, however reluctantly. Whatever she thought about herself and her talents she remains the owner of one of the greatest and most emotive voices of all time. She was something of a reluctant star but her unique voice made success inevitable. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures
Celebrating One Of The Greatest Entertainers, Sammy Davis Jnr	20151229	20161228 (R2)	Admired by Fred Astaire for his dancing, by Frank Sinatra for his singing and by Dr Martin Luther King for his peaceful approach to the American Civil Rights movement, Sammy Davis was unlike any other entertainer - anyone who ever witnessed him perform, never forgot what they saw. His songs provide the perfect soundtrack to his life and times, as told by musician and broadcaster Leo Green who has had a life-long love of this unique performer. We hear from Sammy himself as well as friends and colleagues and enjoy the many musical genres Sammy conquered on his journey to the summit of the entertainment industry which was a harder road to travel than any of his contemporaries. None of the others in the Rat Pack such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin had to contend with the challenges he faced - the brutal racism; the bleak poverty; regular death threats; the loss of an eye; a battle with alcohol and drugs. And yet, despite all these challenges, he covered more ground than anyone else in the industry, establishing himself as the greatest all-round entertainer the world has ever seen, or possibly will ever see. Leo Green tells the story of Sammy Davis Jr. Leo Green celebrates the lives and careers of significant musical figures