- Andy and David Williams – Meet Andy And David Williams (1973) and “One More Time” (1973)
When twin brothers Andy and David Williams appeared on a 1974 episode of “The Partridge Family,” they had achieved a certain amount of fame as unlikely poster boys in teen magazines, and for being the nephews of TV crooner Andy Williams. But beyond the shaggy hair, matching sweater vests and their prepubescent appearance, Andy and David Williams had surprisingly mature singing voices and harmonized expertly with one another resulting in a pair of top notch bubble-gum albums. Yet despite having a niche fan base, by age sixteen Andy and David called it quits, only to reemerge on the LA power-pop scene in the late 1980’s as well versed critically acclaimed singer songwriters. A deep dive into Andy and David Williams, aka The Williams Brothers, in two acts – the teen years, and their later more introspective musical career.
- Claudine Longet – Colours (1968)
What do you see when you look into the eyes of Claudine Longet? Do you see the eyes of a gentle ingénue, or that of a cold blooded killer? On March 21st 1976 a gun shot was heard at the Aspen, Colorado home of Olympic skier Spider Sabich which he shared with French songstress Claudine Longet and her three children. One of the biggest celebrity scandals of the 1970’s, the unlikely crime made international headlines, and was filled with gossip of temper tantrums, jealousy and infidelity. Although she was found guilty for “criminally negligent homicide” in January 1977, as far as the public at large was concerned, Claudine Longet got away with murder. On the 50th Anniversary of the crime, we revisit the case of Claudine Longet and Spider Sabich – how it started, how it ended and how it went very wrong. Extra: Hunter S. Thompson, Mick Jagger and Saturday Night Live weigh in, how Andy William’s support of Claudine Longet potentially affected his own career, and the daughter that Spider Sabich never knew he had.
- Claudine Longet – Claudine (1967)
There seems to be only two things that people remember about Claudine Longet – that she was married to laid back crooner Andy Williams, and that she killed her lover, Olympic skier Spider Sabich. But before the headlines, the scandal and the sensational trial, Claudine Longet was known as a singer! With her soft whispy voice and her thick Parisian accent, Claudine Longet was recording some of the most unusual and inspired covers of the 1960’s in a way that may have been out of step with record buyers when released, but have aged beautifully over time. A deep dive into Claudine Longet’s music career which continues to be under appreciated and misunderstood still today.
- Glen Sherley – Live at Vacaville, California (1972)
Although he never had a hit, singer-songwriter Glen Sherley earned a place in country music lore as the prisoner who Johnny Cash signaled out for writing the song “Greystone Chapel” at his historic 1968 concert at Folsom Prison. After bonding with Cash following the performance, The Man in Black took the Man in Prison Grays under his wing, opening doors for him on the outside and setting him up in the music industry prior to his release, which led to the production of Sherley’s debut album, “Live at Vacaville, CA.” One of the most authentic outlaw country albums ever recorded, it continues to be a rare gem overlooked by the public. A deep dive into Glen Sherley – his life, his crimes, his music, his relationship with Johnny Cash and the tragic end that would go on to haunt the Man in Black until his final days.
- Korla Pandit – The Universal Language of Music, Vol. 3 (1969)
Appearing out of seemingly nowhere on the Los Angeles entertainment scene in 1949, organist Korla Pandit was an unlikely local sex symbol who brought the culture and music of India to early television via his KTLA-TV program “Korla Pandit’s Adventures in Music.” Under his jeweled turban, Pandit was a true man of mystery. But, two years after his death in 1998, the mystery of Korla Pandit became even more profound when writer RJ Smith revealed that everything we thought we knew about “The Godfather of Exotica” was a lie, and there never was a Korla Pandit at all! So who was the man in the turban, and what was his connection to a long forgotten boogie woogie pianist named Johnny Redd? A story of how one man reinvented himself to escape racism and oppression in 1950’s America, and the lengths he took to ensure that nobody discovered the true identity of “The Genie of the Keys.”
- Korla Pandit – Music of Hollywood (1962) and Liberace – Liberace Plays Rhapsody in Blue (1966)
During the earliest days of television, two Los Angeles based keyboardists battled it out for ratings and audiences and became two unlikely sex symbols. On KTLA-TV was the mysterious Korla Pandit, the turbaned “Godfather of Exotica” with the hypnotic eyes with a dash of mysticism. On KLAC-TV was Liberace, with his keyboard smile and a chatty warmth who no woman could seem to get to settle down. Both shows were similar, except for the ways they weren’t, creating an often one-sided “winner takes all” feud which has been lost to time. The story of Korla Pandit and how he came to dominate television, and the coming of Liberace and his rise to fame. Two piano men, two cult followings, and two secrets that could dismantle both their careers and public personas forever.
