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Darwin Lamm is known today as publisher of Elvis...The Magazine, but
this is just one of his varied careers. Darwin grew up as an Elvis fan in the 50's,
but entered the Elvis World on August 16, 1977 when he was asked by
radio stations across America to
 produce a Radio tribute show
following Elvis' death. The result was a 3-hour special titled
"Elvis Remembered", and it led to over 200 hours of Elvis radio
tributes. Radio production
and syndication was something Darwin knew well having teamed up with
Dick Clark in 1971 to launch the first radio talk show in
syndication: The Bill Ballance Feminine Forum. Shortly thereafter,
Darwin formed his own syndication company called Creative Radio
Shows and ventured into the area of music programming. His first
radio special was a 4-hour "The Beach Boys Story." In 1976, Lamm
followed up with a second 4-hour radio special titled "The Beatles".
Next, "The Buddy Holly Story" and others followed before moving into
the country music field with weekly radio specials dedicated to
country's most successful super stars. He had built a network of
several hundred radio stations, and when Elvis died in 1977, the
station managers were clamoring for a radio special to commemorate
the King, and they sought out Lamm to produce it. The overwhelming
response Lamm received from "Elvis Remembered" made him realize the
impact Elvis had on so many people around the world. He followed up
with "Elvis: The Country Side" in 1980, then a 6-hour show, "The
10th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1987. In 1988 he produced a
highly successful weekly program, The Elvis Hour. Darwin Lamm
entered the publishing world in 1988 with the magazine Elvis
International Forum, and it quickly became recognized as THE Elvis
magazine for the fans as the articles and stories invovled many of
Elvis' closest friends. As the magazine evolved, the name changed to
Elvis...The Magazine, now in its 21st year of publication. In
addition to his new role as publisher, Darwin continued to produce
radio specials through the 1990's including "Memories of Elvis" in
1990, "The Elvis 15th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1992 and "The
Elvis 20th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1997. Lamm's vast library
is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of wonderful "nuggets"
about Elvis from interviews with various celebrities who were
touched by Elvis. On radio you only heard short clips, but in the
book ELVIS...He Touched Me, you get the full interviews in Darwin's
new book.
And now, for the rest of the story about Darwin.
Where it all started...
Darwin Lamm was an 18 year-old singer/songwriter
living in Vancouver, Washington in 1960 when he heard Bonnie
Guitar was appearing in town at the “Frontier Dinner
 Club.”
Bonnie had several hit records on her own but was also credited
with discovering the group The Fleetwoods.
Not yet of legal drinking age, Darwin nonetheless grabbed up a
couple of songs he had written with The Fleetwoods in mind, and
headed for the club where Bonnie was singing. The doorman, of
course, stopped him at the door for I.D., but, by claiming he
had some important papers for Bonnie, young Darwin was allowed
to enter and sit back by her dressing room.
After Bonnie finished her set, Darwin met her outside her
dressing room, where he actually sang his compositions in a live
audition. Little did Lamm know, but Bonnie was looking for
another Fleetwoods-like group. When she learned Darwin was
working with Bobbi Brown and Janet Peters, two female singers
known as The Cupids, Miss Guitar believed she had just found her
next Fleetwoods trio.
At this time, Bonnie and Darwin met with Seattle music
distributor Jerry Dennon who was anxious to start his own label.
All that was missing was a singer and some songs, both of which
were supplied when he signed Darwin & The Cupids. Their “How
Long” – produced by Bonnie Guitar – became the first-ever Jerden
single (Jerden 1) in 1960.
Within weeks “How Long” was the Northwest’s hottest hit,
reaching the top of the charts. Darwin & The Cupids were in
constant demand, playing rapid-fire dates for 10,000 plus
crowds, such as the 1960 “Show of Stars.” “How Long” was
included on the album Original Great Northwest Hits Volume I.
On the heels of “How Long” came Darwin & The Cupids’ equally
popular follow-up: “Goodnite My Love” (Jerden 9).
After the two Jerden hits, Lamm moved to Los
Angeles and from 1963 to 1965 recorded for Dore Records as
“Darwin.” He also produced records by other artists for
L.A.-based labels like Liberty, Dot and Dore Records.
Singing was an exciting chapter in Darwin’s career, and along
the way it shaped his life for a great journey in the
entertainment business.
Why this CD? "Recently, my friend, Randy, (who, by the way,
helped put these recordings together), brought to my attention
that several of the above records were being sold on eBay for as
high as $45 for one record. Well, I sure don’t want my friends
paying $45 for a single record of mine, so I decided to put them
together on this CD. I hope you enjoyed my musical journey."
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