Red with Bro Jake & Dave Pratt on TSN 1040

Red with Bro Jake & Dave Pratt on TSN 1040

Red recalls how his career started around this time in 1954, meeting Elvis, retirement, voicing Michael Buble's Christmas specials, Red Rock Diner, and his plans for his vast archive. Recorded in Vancouver, November 2014.

Legends of Comedy: Rich Elwood

Rich Elwood was a Vancouver radio personality, actor, stand-up comedian and comedy club owner. His comedy career started doing Bill Cosby routines in front of his Grade 7 class and he polished his act in Toronto's notorious Yonge Street strip clubs. "They were a good training ground," he told the Vancouver Sun's Lee Bacchus, "You would have about 200 guys out there all yelling 'Bring out the broads!' You had to be good or you'd be doing the last 10 minutes to heckles and boos." Rich says, "Doing standup was always a blast. However, bands typically didn't care for standup warmups. In one case, the last thing they said to me before going on was 'Keep it short and don't touch our equipment.' I was only going to do five minutes and would not need to touch their gear, but it became a twenty minute set that ended in me giving myself a cymbal crash. 'Don't say don't to a comedian', I said to them coming off. I opened for many acts over the years including Tom Jones (a class guy and very gracious), The Righteous Brothers (quiet but nice), Howie Mandel (a super person and very funny), Dennis Miller (very bright), The Temptations (very cool people) and Ray Charles, who was so nice to me and I was very much in awe of him. Man, did he have stories!" Punchline's was the first real comedy club in Vancouver. Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Norm Macdonald, Howie Mandel and other greats all headlined. Rich also opened the door to up-and-coming comics Ryan Stiles, Rick Ducommun, Patrick McKenna and many more. His Vancouver radio career in Vancouver included CFUN (as DJ Rich Kelly) and CKNW as a talk show host. He was MC for Red's 50th Anniversary In Radio celebration in 2004, and he would also step in for Red on CISL's morning show. Among Rich’s acting roles over the years was a part in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore in the mid-1990s. After getting out of the club business, he was an in-demand corporate comic and producer. Rich wrote comedy for the hit political series Double Exposure, and he developed several TV projects with writing partner Patrick McKenna. Rich Elwood died on December 2, 2021 at the age of 67. Old friend John Oliver says, "One of the funniest people I have ever known and a true friend. A risk-taker, an entrepreneur who never quit in his efforts to bring quality comedy to Vancouver." Tom Jeffries replaced Rich at CFUN: "He was most gracious and we had so much fun when he ran Punchline's. A very talented and hilarious man ― I miss him. I was blessed to call him a friend." Recorded in Vancouver in 2013.

Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell was a fantastic 12-string guitar player who became part of a group of studio musicians later known as The Wrecking Crew. Glen played on hits by The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and many more. Red says, "I recall Glen coming to Vancouver as part of the annual C-FUN Teen Fair in the early Sixties. He had only two or three songs out at the time and none were in the Top 10, but his single 'Universal Soldier' (penned by Canadian artist Buffy Sainte-Marie) was charted in Billboard magazine along with a version by Donovan. I could not get him an interview with anyone in the media. A couple of summers down the road, 'Gentle On My Mind' became a major hit, followed by 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' and 'Wichita Lineman'. Suddenly everyone wanted an interview with Glen. Anyway, years later when he achieved superstar status, he returned to Vancouver and played to a sell-out audience at the Coliseum. Toward the end of the show he picked up the mike and said, ‘It’s nice to be back after all those years. When I first came to Vancouver I couldn’t get arrested, but there was one man who believed in me. He’s here in the audience tonight, and I want him to stand up.’ He meant me! I was startled, but I stood up and the Coliseum crowd cheered.” Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011, and he was still well enough to embark on his final tour, which was documented in the award-winning film Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me. Red says, "The last time I saw Glen was onstage at Vancouver's PNE. I asked for an interview and he said he wasn't up to it, but he relented in the end. Glen was going through the early stages of Alzheimer's and did not want to ignore me, but he was uncomfortable. He remembered me and the PNE dates from the past. We had such a great trip down memory lane." Glen Campbell died in Nashville on August 8, 2017, at the age of 81. Glen's wife Kim founded the I'll Be Me Alzheimer's Fund with director James Keach, who directed Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me. For more information, please visit ibmaf.org. Planning a trip to Nashville? Make sure you visit the Glen Campbell Museum and celebrate the life of a pop/country giant! Recorded in Vancouver, 2012

Dee Lippingwell

Concert photographer Dee Lippingwell's very first concert was a Pink Floyd show in Vancouver back in 1973. Over a 50 year career she photographed some of rock's royalty: The Rolling Stones, Queen, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, KISS, Van Halen and many more. Her first book, “The Best Seat in the House,” was followed by the self-published “First Three Songs… No Flash,” and Dee and Red sat down to talk about her new book. Dee was inducted into the BC Country Music Association's Hall of Fame in 2011, an honour in part based on her extensive work with the Merritt Mountain Music Festival. “I don’t think I was ever tired of rock and roll, I love rock and roll,” Dee said, “but country music opened my eyes to other music out there.” Her photos of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and other country stars were documented in her third book, 2021's “Memories From the Mountain”. Dee Lippingwell died May 9 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Paul, sons Marc and Chris, grandchildren Shauna and Tyler, and her brother David. Bryan Adams' writing partner Jim Vallance told music trade magazine Billboard Canada, "If you were lucky enough to live a hundred years, you wouldn't come across a lovelier, more classy, more talented, more humble person than Dee Lippingwell." For a wide selection of Dee's work, including books, prints, scarves, tees and tote bags, visit deelippingwell.net. Recorded in Vancouver, 2012

Chad Allan interview, 2000

Sad music news... Chad Allan passed away on November 21 at age 80. He is survived by his wife, Christine. Chad was born Allan Kowbel in Winnipeg and took his stage name, Chad Allan, in tribute to a favourite 1950s singer, Chad Mitchell. His first band was Allan and the Silvertones and then Chad Allan and the Reflections/Expressions, which evolved into the Guess Who. Chad left the Guess Who in 1966 to attend college. In 1967, he hosted the Winnipeg version of the weekly CBC TV music program Let's Go. Chad was a guest at the grand opening of the Red Robinson Show Theatre, and Red interviewed him on the September 21, 2000 edition of CISL Radio's "Wakeup Club". Here, they talk about the early days, some of the people Chad worked with, and the first time he heard "Shakin' All Over". In 2015, he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Manitoba for his contribution to Canadian music. A true rock'n'roll pioneer. RIP Chad!