Behind the Velvet Curtain (Studio Secrets)
Before he was a solo superstar, this "Wichita Lineman" singer was a top-tier session guitarist for the Wrecking Crew, playing on hits by The Beach Boys and Frank Sinatra.
Glen Campbell
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote dozens of hits for this singer, including "Walk On By" and "I Say a Little Prayer
Dione Warwick
In 1966, this Sgt. Barry Sadler song became an unlikely #1 hit during the Vietnam War, praising a specific branch of the military
The Ballad of the Green Berets
This instrument, featured prominently in The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," creates a "spooky" sliding electronic tone
Theramin
The lyrics to this Petula Clark hit were inspired by the songwriter getting lost in New York City's Times Square
Downtown
While Elvis made it a hit, this legendary "Big Mama" originally recorded "Hound Dog" in 1952, hitting #1 on the R&B charts years before the King.
Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
This folk singer wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" (made famous by Janis Joplin) while he was still working as a helicopter pilot
Kris Kristofferson
This 1963 song by The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire) was a global phenomenon, despite being sung entirely in French
Dominique (English version by Debbie Reynolds)
Before becoming a session legend, this pianist played the famous "honky-tonk" solo on Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel“
Floyd Cramer
In the song "The Girl from Ipanema," the girl is described as being "tall and tan and young and..." what?
Lovely
This 1960s instrumental hit by The Surfaris is famous for its frantic drum solo and a recording of a breaking board followed by a manic laugh
Wipe Out
This singer-songwriter wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" for his wife, Peggy Seeger, long before Roberta Flack made it a #1 hit in 1972.
Who is Ewan MacColl
This group had a massive hit with "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" in 1969, but the band didn't actually exist—it was just studio musicians
Steam
This keyboardist and bandleader for the M.G.'s became a soul icon after recording "Green Onions" on a Hammond M-3 organ at just 17 years old
Booker T. Jones (from Booker T. & The M.G’s)
She was the "First Lady of Song," but she actually got her big break in 1934 at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night after originally intending to dance.
Ella Fitzgerald
This legendary Brill Building songwriter penned "The Locomotion" for her babysitter, Little Eva, and went on to write "Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin. She also had hits with You’ve Got A Friend and You’re So Far Away
Carol King
This Jazz drummer’s solo on the 1959 track "Take Five" is famous for being played in the unusual 5/4 time signature.
Joe Morello
This baritone singer, famous for "Moon River," actually provided the uncredited singing voice for Lauren Bacall in the film To Have and Have Not
Andy Williams