Perry Botkin, Jr., through his arrangements, launched an abundance of hit records while conducting the Wrecking Crew at many of the famed recording studios in Hollywood. You’ll know Perry’s sound when you hear the backing tracks for the Lettermen, Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, Harpers Bizarre, and Barbra Streisand. On this week’s show, we get the stories behind all those recording sessions from the man whose charts graced many a music stand, Perry Botkin, Jr.

This week’s show begins with Florence La Rue of the 5th Dimension who remembers Up, Up, and Away with us. Then we shift to San Francisco’s Summer of Love recalling dj Big Daddy Tom Donahue with Tom’s wife, Raechel Donahue who became an entertainment reporter for CNN and is today the host of her own internet radio show. Finally, our last segment is with Rick Derringer of the McCoys (Hang On Sloopy) who’s appeared on numerous albums with Steely Dan, Air Supply, and Cindy Lauper.

This week we meet Tony Butala and you’ll know who he is when I rattle off a few of their hits: The Way You Look Tonight, Hurts So Bad, Goin’ Outa My Head/ Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You. Tony’s the only original member left of the Lettermen. And recently, TV legend and film star Dick Van Dyke became the first ever recipient of the Red Skelton America’s Clown Award. We’re going to hear about that and more from our first guest, Anne Pratt, the Executive Director of the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy.

Remember the hullabaloo in the early ‘60s that came from a New York City hotspot called the Peppermint Lounge. This week we’re talking with Joey Dee whose hit record, the Peppermint Twist exploded out of that steamy nightclub. After that, we’ll talk with Bob Lind who created a word picture worthy of framing in the Sixties museum with his hit tune about the bright elusive butterfly of love.