Musicians – Page 5 – Now I've Heard Everything

Cissy Houston

November 25, 2020November 24, 2020Bill Thompson

In the music business, backup singers often fade into the background. Few achieve much fame on their own. One who did was Cissy Houston.

Photo: Kingkongphotohttp://www.celebrity-photos.com

After a successful career backing up the likes of Elvis Preslet, Dionne Warick, and Aretha Franklin, Houston struck out on her own — and won two Grammies.

I met Cissy Houston in the spring of 1998, after she’d written her memoir.

So here now, from 1998i, Cissy Houston:

Cissy Houston is now 87 amd still performs. She leads the 200-member Youth Inspirational Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

Chris Jericho

November 6, 2020November 1, 2020Bill Thompson

For nearly two decades, Chris Jericho was a fixture of the WWE. In fact, he was widely considered one of pro wrestling’s best.

But since the end of the 1990s, he has also been a rock star.

I met him in 2011, when he wrote the second volume of a memoir.

So here now, from 2011, Chris Jericho.

Next Monday, November 9th, is Chris Jericho’s birthday — he’ll be turning 50.

Marvin Hamlisch

October 19, 2020October 18, 2020Bill Thompson

What comes to mind when I say the name Marvin Hamlisch?

You may think of The Sting. Or Tthe Way We Were. Or A Chorus Line. Certainly Hamlisch is known for all of that, but much more.

I met him some 28 years ago, when he wrote A memoir of his decades in show business, starting with his early years at Juilliard.

So here now, from 1992, Marvin Hamlisch.

Marvin Hamlisch is one of only 16 people to have ever won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. And he is one of only two people to have won all four of those, plus a Pulitzer Prize.

Marvin Hamlisch died in 2012, at age 68.

Janis Ian

October 9, 2020October 4, 2020Bill Thompson

https://www.flickr.com/people/33439023@N00

At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams or preparing book reports, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on television, and getting awards for her music.

From an early age, Janis Ian made a name for herself as a singer-songwriter. Among her biggest hits, Society’s Child, and At 17.

And in 1975 — 45 years ago this week, in fact, — Janis Ian was one of the two musical guests on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir. So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 69 now. Her latest album was released in 2017.

Julie Andrews

September 30, 2020September 27, 2020Bill Thompson

Julie Andrews made her debut as an actress and singer in London in 1948.

She first appeared on Broadway in 1954.

But to audiences of all ages around the world, she may be best known as Mary Poppins, or as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music.

I met her in 2009, aftershe and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, had collaborated

poems, solngs a,d lullabies

Tomorrow, October 1st, is Julie Andrews’s 85th birthday.

David Cassidy

September 25, 2020September 20, 2020Bill Thompson

Fifty years ago today, a TV show premiered on ABC, about a family that had formed a rock band. It was called “The Partridge Family,: and its star was a young actor-singer named David Cassidy.

In very short order, Cassidy became a full-fledged teen idol. Girls went crazy for him. He sold out concert Halls.

But as he revealed in a 1994 memoir, life was not exactly what it looked like on the outside.

You know, people often ask me which of my tem tjpisamd-plus interviews with my favorite. It’s hard to pin down one favorite, but the interview you’re about to hear is certainly in my top five. I found David Cassidy, who was it then 44 years old, to be one of the most thoughtful, introspective, smartest, and most likeable people I’ve ever interviewed.

David Cassidy died in 2017. He was 67.

Reba McEntire

June 5, 2020June 1, 2020Bill Thompson

Reba McEntire recorded her first song in 1976, when she was just 21.

Her first number one record didn’t come for another decade, but she’s been on a roll ever since, and today is a country music icon.

In 1994, Reba wrote an autobiography, and that;s when I met her.

And yes, it was another one of those times that I was pretty starstruck. But she immediately put me at ease.

And that day, I also brought my 11- and 13-year-old daughters and my wife to meet one of our favorite performers. In fact, at one point in this interview, you’ll hear a brief exchange between Reba and my wife.

And after we listen to the interview, stick around — I have to tell you one of my favorite celebrity stories.

So here now, from 1994, Reba McEntire.

Reba McEntire’s most recent album, “Stronger Than the Truth,: was released last year.

And she recently guest starred on TV’s “Young Sheldon.”

Her own TV show, “Reba,” is still seen in syndication.