We talked about a book he's written about the 761st Tank Batallion, the Black Panthers who served under General Patton in WWII. We also talked about his great NBA career. Kareem is awesome!
They've talked so many times before, but it's always a treat when Mr Mathis calls into our studios for a nice long chat with Rick Crandall. He's still performing and still playing golf almost every day. Listen as Johnny and Rick talk about his famous Christmas albums and so much more!
Rick's Interview with Steve Miller - July 30, 2009
Glenn Miller's son Steve dropped by the Breakfast Club for a chat about his legendary father. Steve talked to Rick Crandall for almost an hour! Here is the entire interview.
Rick had a very long interview with legendary pop singer Pat Boone, where Pat told the most wonderful stories about his past in the movies & recroding industry. Mr Boone just turned 75 this year. He sold over 45 million albums, had 38 Top 40 hits and starred in more than 12 Hollywood movies. Boone's talent as a singer and actor combined with his old-fashioned values contributed to his popularity in the pre-rock and roll era.
John Pizzarelli is the son of one of Jazz' greatest guitarists, Bucky Pizzarelli, and surpassed his father in fame (but not guitar playing). John's show "Radio Deluxe" is heard Saturday evenings at 6pm.
Renee Olstead is one of the young (and quite beautiful) shining stars on the music scene today. She's just released her second, and much anticipated, cd called Skylark. The recording was produced by music legend David Foster and shortly after it's release, Renee visited with Rick.
David Walter Foster is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer-songwriter and arranger. Foster has won fifteen Grammy Awards (three for Producer of the Year) and has been nominated 45 times! He has been nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Song, won the 1999 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and has been named BMI's "Songwriter of the Year". David produced the debut albums for The Corrs, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. Oh... he's also a fantastic singer and has appeared on American Idol.
The always delightful and multi-talented actress & singer, Bernadette Peters, was interviewed by Rick a few days before her One Night Only show with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra on Sept 26. She talks about her special performance this weekend, her schooldays and her delight at some of the same music Rick loves.. including girl groups from the 50's & 60's!
On a Wednesday morning, Breakfast Club host Rick Crandall welcomed four-time Grammy Award winner, and Denver resident, Dianne Reeves for an hour-long conversation. The show featured music from Dianne's four award-winning albums, plus a special guest. Joining Rick, and Dianne, in the Studio was Miss Miller, Dianne's 8th grade teacher at Hamilton Junior High. Miss Miller heard Dianne singing in the hallway one day and invited her to join the school's chorus. The rest... yep... is history! This is the first the two friends have been together in an interview on radio!
Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn NY) is an Italian American singer & actor. He was discovered by Perry Como while working in a movie theater and Como took him under his wing. Later after winning Arthur Godrey's Talent Scouts, Milton Burle also helped him with his career by having him sing on his TV show many times. Damone has performed for over 50 years and lately has been touring mostly in Las Vegas. He has many hits and gold records to his credit. Frank Sinatra once said that Damone had "the best set of pipes in the business. LISTEN HERE
Steve Lawrence - July 11, 2001
Steve Lawrence (born July 8, 1935) is an American singer & actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as Steve and Eydie. The two have appeared together since appearing regularly on The Tonight Show in the mid-1950s. Lawrence had success on the pop record charts in the late 50's and early 1960's with such hits as "Go Away Little Girl". However much of his musical career has centered on nightclubs and the musical stage. Lawrence is an actor as well, appearing in guest roles on television shows in every decade since the 1950's. He was nominated for a Tony Award, has four Emmys and he (with Gorme) have been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. LISTEN HERE
Neil Sedaka - June 12, 2007
Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter often associated with the Brill Building. He teamed up with Howard Greenfield to write many major hit songs for himself and others including: Calendar Girl, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Laughter in the Rain & Love Will Keep us Together. LISTEN HERE
Mike Douglas - August 17, 2002
Mike Douglas, born Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr. (August 11, 1925 – August 11, 2006), was an American entertainer, singer & TV host. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and began singing as a choirboy. By his teens he was working as a singer on a Lake Michigan dinner cruise ship. After serving briefly in the United States Navy near the end of World War II, he moved to Los Angeles and he became a vocalist in the big band of Kay Kyser. But Douglas's real fame began in 1961 when he began a daily afternoon talk show in Cleveland that soon went national as "The Mike Douglas Show" and continued on air until 1981. LISTEN HERE
Keely Smith - May 2006
Keely Smith (born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely, 9 March 1932, in Norfolk, Virginia, of part Cherokee and Irish descent) is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed great popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Her collaborations with Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra were highly rated. Smith was much admired for her singing style, and for her duets with Louis Prima. In recent years, Smith resumed her career to critical acclaim. On February 10, 2008, Smith performed "That Old Black Magic" with Kid Rock at the 50th Grammy Awards. LISTEN HERE
Chuck Yeager - March 2005
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired Brigadier-General in the United States Air Force and a noted test pilot. In 1947, he became the first pilot (at age 24) to travel faster than sound in level flight and ascent. Yeager was the first man to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, flying the experimental Bell X-1 at Mach 1 at an altitude of 13,700 m (45,000 ft). Yeager's flying career spans more than sixty years and has taken him to every corner of the globe, even into the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. LISTEN HERE
Phyllis McGuire - July 11, 2006
The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. They consisted of Christine, Dorothy, and Phyllis McGuire (born February 14, 1931). When they started in 1935, Phyllis was only four years old. In 1952, they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, and as a result, Godfrey hired them for his other shows, where they remained for seven years. They performed for five Presidents of the United States and for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as appearing on many top television shows. The Coca-Cola company signed them to a contract with the highest fee in advertising history up to that date. In 1968, they retired from public performance & Phyllis went to a solo act. In 1994, they were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In 2001, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. LISTEN HERE
Jim Lovell - May 23, 2008
James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., (born March 25, 1928) is a former NASA astronaut, most famous as the commander of Apollo 13, which suffered an explosion enroute to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission control. Lovell was also the command module pilot of Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit. Lovell is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is one of only 24 men to have flown to the Moon, and the only man to have flown to the Moon twice without making a landing. LISTEN HERE
Peter Yarrow - Sept 10, 2007
Peter Yarrow (born May 31, 1938 in New York City, New York) is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote (with Leonard Lipton) the group's most famous song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon." He has also long done work for social change, ranging from his vocal opposition to the Vietnam war to the creation of Operation Respect. LISTEN HERE
Johnny Mathis - May 22, 2008
Rick had a very long on-air chat with Mr Johhny Mathis about his life, his longtime manager George Russell, GOLF, music and the fact that he's busier than ever with a new cd just out featuring the lovely Gladys Knight, called "A Night to Remember". LISTEN HERE
Dianne Reeves - June 18, 2008
The day before she performed at the Aspen Jazz Festival, Denver's own DIANNE REEVES talked to Rick about her life and her new album, "When You Know".. her first in nearly 5 years. Dianne is known more for her live performances than her albums and she is considered one of the most important contemporary jazz singers alive today. She lives in Denver, Colorado & attended George Washington High School & UC. Dianne is a four-time Grammy winner - the only singer to win the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category for three consecutive recordings in any singing category. LISTEN HERE
They've talked so many times before, but it's always a treat when Mr Mathis calls into our studios for a nice long chat with Rick Crandall. He's still performing and still playing golf almost every day. Listen as Johnny and Rick talk about his famous Christmas albums and so much more!
Glenn Miller's son Steve dropped by the Breakfast Club for a chat about his legendary father. Steve talked to Rick Crandall for almost an hour! Here is the entire interview.
Rick had a very long interview with legendary pop singer Pat Boone, where Pat told the most wonderful stories about his past in the movies & recroding industry. Mr Boone just turned 75 this year. He sold over 45 million albums, had 38 Top 40 hits and starred in more than 12 Hollywood movies. Boone's talent as a singer and actor combined with his old-fashioned values contributed to his popularity in the pre-rock and roll era. 
John Pizzarelli is the son of one of Jazz' greatest guitarists, Bucky Pizzarelli, and surpassed his father in fame (but not guitar playing). John's show "Radio Deluxe" is heard Saturday evenings at 6pm.
Renee Olstead is one of the young (and quite beautiful) shining stars on the music scene today. She's just released her second, and much anticipated, cd called Skylark. The recording was produced by music legend David Foster and shortly after it's release, Renee visited with Rick. 
David Walter Foster is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer-songwriter and arranger. Foster has won fifteen Grammy Awards (three for Producer of the Year) and has been nominated 45 times! He has been nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Song, won the 1999 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and has been named BMI's "Songwriter of the Year". David produced the debut albums for The Corrs, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. Oh... he's also a fantastic singer and has appeared on American Idol.
The always delightful and multi-talented actress & singer, Bernadette Peters, was interviewed by Rick a few days before her One Night Only show with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra on Sept 26. She talks about her special performance this weekend, her schooldays and her delight at some of the same music Rick loves.. including girl groups from the 50's & 60's!
On a Wednesday morning, Breakfast Club host Rick Crandall welcomed four-time Grammy Award winner, and Denver resident, Dianne Reeves for an hour-long conversation. The show featured music from Dianne's four award-winning albums, plus a special guest. Joining Rick, and Dianne, in the Studio was Miss Miller, Dianne's 8th grade teacher at Hamilton Junior High. Miss Miller heard Dianne singing in the hallway one day and invited her to join the school's chorus. The rest... yep... is history! This is the first the two friends have been together in an interview on radio!
Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn NY) is an Italian American singer & actor. He was discovered by Perry Como while working in a movie theater and Como took him under his wing. Later after winning Arthur Godrey's Talent Scouts, Milton Burle also helped him with his career by having him sing on his TV show many times. Damone has performed for over 50 years and lately has been touring mostly in Las Vegas. He has many hits and gold records to his credit. Frank Sinatra once said that Damone had "the best set of pipes in the business.
Steve Lawrence (born July 8, 1935) is an American singer & actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as Steve and Eydie. The two have appeared together since appearing regularly on The Tonight Show in the mid-1950s. Lawrence had success on the pop record charts in the late 50's and early 1960's with such hits as "Go Away Little Girl". However much of his musical career has centered on nightclubs and the musical stage. Lawrence is an actor as well, appearing in guest roles on television shows in every decade since the 1950's. He was nominated for a Tony Award, has four Emmys and he (with Gorme) have been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter often associated with the Brill Building. He teamed up with Howard Greenfield to write many major hit songs for himself and others including: Calendar Girl, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Laughter in the Rain & Love Will Keep us Together.
Mike Douglas, born Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr. (August 11, 1925 – August 11, 2006), was an American entertainer, singer & TV host. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and began singing as a choirboy. By his teens he was working as a singer on a Lake Michigan dinner cruise ship. After serving briefly in the United States Navy near the end of World War II, he moved to Los Angeles and he became a vocalist in the big band of Kay Kyser. But Douglas's real fame began in 1961 when he began a daily afternoon talk show in Cleveland that soon went national as "The Mike Douglas Show" and continued on air until 1981. 
Keely Smith (born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely, 9 March 1932, in Norfolk, Virginia, of part Cherokee and Irish descent) is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed great popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Her collaborations with Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra were highly rated. Smith was much admired for her singing style, and for her duets with Louis Prima. In recent years, Smith resumed her career to critical acclaim. On February 10, 2008, Smith performed "That Old Black Magic" with Kid Rock at the 50th Grammy Awards.
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired Brigadier-General in the United States Air Force and a noted test pilot. In 1947, he became the first pilot (at age 24) to travel faster than sound in level flight and ascent. Yeager was the first man to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, flying the experimental Bell X-1 at Mach 1 at an altitude of 13,700 m (45,000 ft). Yeager's flying career spans more than sixty years and has taken him to every corner of the globe, even into the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.
The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. They consisted of Christine, Dorothy, and Phyllis McGuire (born February 14, 1931). When they started in 1935, Phyllis was only four years old. In 1952, they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, and as a result, Godfrey hired them for his other shows, where they remained for seven years. They performed for five Presidents of the United States and for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as appearing on many top television shows. The Coca-Cola company signed them to a contract with the highest fee in advertising history up to that date. In 1968, they retired from public performance & Phyllis went to a solo act. In 1994, they were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In 2001, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. 
James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., (born March 25, 1928) is a former NASA astronaut, most famous as the commander of Apollo 13, which suffered an explosion enroute to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission control. Lovell was also the command module pilot of Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit. Lovell is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is one of only 24 men to have flown to the Moon, and the only man to have flown to the Moon twice without making a landing.
Peter Yarrow (born May 31, 1938 in New York City, New York) is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote (with Leonard Lipton) the group's most famous song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon." He has also long done work for social change, ranging from his vocal opposition to the Vietnam war to the creation of Operation Respect.
Rick had a very long on-air chat with Mr Johhny Mathis about his life, his longtime manager George Russell, GOLF, music and the fact that he's busier than ever with a new cd just out featuring the lovely Gladys Knight, called "A Night to Remember".
The day before she performed at the Aspen Jazz Festival, Denver's own DIANNE REEVES talked to Rick about her life and her new album, "When You Know".. her first in nearly 5 years. Dianne is known more for her live performances than her albums and she is considered one of the most important contemporary jazz singers alive today. She lives in Denver, Colorado & attended George Washington High School & UC. Dianne is a four-time Grammy winner - the only singer to win the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category for three consecutive recordings in any singing category.