Glen Campbell Calls His First Time on the Radio ‘a Great Thrill’
Glen Campbell became a household name in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to hits such as "Gentle on My Mind," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy." His television variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, aired from 1969 to 1972 and featured musical guests from all genres, including country greats Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard.
Sadly, Campbell is now battling Alzheimer's disease and is unable to perform. In March of 2016, five years after the icon first revealed his diagnosis and embarked on his Goodbye Tour, his wife Kim revealed that he could no longer speak. Before all of that, however, The Boot sat down with Campbell to learn about where he was when he first heard himself on the radio.
I was in my car, and I said, "Wow!" I almost wrecked my car. It was fun to hear yourself on the radio. It was a great thrill ...
Do you know Jimmy Bowen? He produced all the stuff for [Frank] Sinatra and Dean Martin. Jimmy and I had worked together doing demo sessions. And we worked for American Music. Jimmy and I would get songs and do demos for the publishing company, and that's how I got into the record business; it was a lot of fun. The song was "Turn Around Look at Me," in 1962. I was scared when I was doing it, because it sounded too high. When you get nervous and the adrenaline is going, your voice automatically gets another dingle up!
This story was originally written by Pat Gallagher, and revised by Angela Stefano.
Glen Campbell Through the Years