Thank you Leta . A wonderful interview. I didn't know very much about Gordon MacRae other than at the age of 80 , I realized he was one of the finest singer I have ever heard. I wish all the young people of today would have the time and opportunity to listen to this incredible talent. What a joy he was.
A couple of years after this, I saw Gordon MacRae in concert, in Laredo, Texas. That concert is the most memorable performance I have ever seen. He talked about his alcoholism, and he talked losing - and then getting - the lead role in Carousel and how much that meant to him. He said he was Billy Bigelow. I would love to see or hear a recording of that. This is a wonderful reminder of just how emotional his performance in Laredo was. Thanks for posting this. Ed
Just Loved him from the time i first seen him in By The Light Of The Silvery Moon. Boy was he just Gorgeous ! I was 6 and a half ! I never Stopped Loving him. His rendition of Let The Rest Of The World Go By with Jo Stafford is timeless. R.I.P. Gordon and Thank you for All the Joy you brought to my life. You will be Forever Loved and Remembered XXXXX
Gordon was such a wonderful singer, actor, and human being. Leta was such a courteous interviewer, too. How I long for those bygone days of civility and decorum.
I have always heard about Gordon MacRae's struggle with alcoholism and it makes me feel so good that MacRae used this period of his career to come out and speak about his struggles with alcoholism. Also, it's wonderful to hear him singing again.
It’s interesting how forthright MacCrae is about his alcoholism, but vague about his other illness - a stroke that affected his left side. The tell-tale signs: his bound left arm, and a slight limp when he steps in place to perform.
Wonder if he was a smoker, too. He died way too young and had head and neck cancer in addition to a stroke. In his day, he had a glorious voice, one of the best of the film musical baritones.
I believe he is buried here in Lincoln, Nebraska. I loved listening to his voice when I was young. I find myself singing songs from OKLAHOMA all the time in the shower. Not quite up yo his standards though.
So pleased with my sweetie Gordon as he shares the same sobriety month and year with my husband and they both are not doing meetings in heaven although they are basically cured. Happy Gordon had the chance to help other suffering alcoholics because thats how the program works. I myself have 45 years of sobriety. Love you Gordon and of course my Ed.
Soo different faces from young age until this interwju. How sad and bad that he should fall into alcohol. Such a handsome man.. Wish he found the Gods Paradise with Jesus and have a REALLY good and eternal life
I had an enormous crush on him. Then I found out his movies with Doris Day were filmed 20 years before I was born..Makes time seem...I don't know. Today I did the math. When I discovered him so many years ago, he was no longer here. I still like to watch older movies but it's sad. I miss them yet they were before my time.
There isn't any sound :-( Gordon MacRae was one of the greatest singers of all time. There isn't anyone today who is his equal. Proud that he called Nebraska home in his later years.
Truth to be told, it wasn't so much the song which is actually a pretty good one (as sung by Charlie Rich) but a combination of the arrangement and Gordon's delivery here. Gordon was a gifted singer but he was certainly past his best by 1982.
He was good looking with a perfect voice. But big stars have failings. He came across to bland in his films to me. Sinatra would have brought more star quality to Carosel.
Sinatra had a bigger career - obviously - and, by definition, would have had more 'star quality', as you put it. Unfortunately for him, the vocal demands of playing Billy Bigelow in Carousel - and doing justice to it - were way beyond his ability. Rogers and Hammerstein were known for their exacting standards in terms of what they demanded from singers and the simple fact is, Sinatra's vocals couldn't cut it at that level. That's no disgrace, either, because very few performers could. GM was quite exceptional with an extraordinarily beautiful voice for musicals. No-one has ever sung those songs better than him - and certainly not Sinatra.
Sinatra walked off Carousel (shooting had already commenced) because he discovered the double of the film for two systems, as they'd done with 'Ok', and he was notorious about his reluctance to play a scene more than once for the camera. Well, that's the official take, but I personally reckon that Sinatra knew he was in over his head and he did not have the heft, physically or vocally, for Bigelow. Gordon MacRae really was the only artist for that role. A great talent.
@@t.p.mckenna Frank Sinatra could most certainly have pulled off Billy. He did a masterful recording of Soliliqy and was a far better singer/actor than Gordon.
Thank you Leta . A wonderful interview. I didn't know very much about Gordon MacRae other than at the age of 80 , I realized he was one of the finest singer I have ever heard. I wish all the young people of today would have the time and opportunity to listen to this incredible talent. What a joy he was.
A couple of years after this, I saw Gordon MacRae in concert, in Laredo, Texas. That concert is the most memorable performance I have ever seen. He talked about his alcoholism, and he talked losing - and then getting - the lead role in Carousel and how much that meant to him. He said he was Billy Bigelow. I would love to see or hear a recording of that. This is a wonderful reminder of just how emotional his performance in Laredo was. Thanks for posting this. Ed
One of my all-time favorite Singers. 💫
Just Loved him from the time i first seen him in By The Light Of The Silvery Moon. Boy was he just Gorgeous ! I was 6 and a half ! I never Stopped Loving him. His rendition of Let The Rest Of The World Go By with Jo Stafford is timeless. R.I.P. Gordon and Thank you for All the Joy you brought to my life. You will be Forever Loved and Remembered XXXXX
What a gorgeous looking young man he was with a lovely smile and nature. However very candid and brave to talk about his alcoholism
Gordon was such a wonderful singer, actor, and human being. Leta was such a courteous interviewer, too. How I long for those bygone days of civility and decorum.
What a wonderful well rounded human being. From a bygone era. Stunning voice.
I have always heard about Gordon MacRae's struggle with alcoholism and it makes me feel so good that MacRae used this period of his career to come out and speak about his struggles with alcoholism. Also, it's wonderful to hear him singing again.
So sad he never got around to writing the book he talks about writing here
❤ Before having the stroke, was the best singer, Ever !!!!!
He was certainly among the greatest vocalists in film musicals.
Arthur Harrison
Perhaps The Best!!!
Frank Sinatra declared him the best
Apparently he never had one singing lesson,amazing!
This man was a wonderful singer.
he had a fabulous voice loved hearing him sing
A very underestimated actor and singer, never saw him give a bad performance
Gordon was my grandmother’s cousin, who was Scottish
My favorite screen star and favorite voice , as well as song interpretation.
the 1962 and 1963 albums of gospel songs with Jo Stafford are really sublime
And let's not forget the fine recordings of holiday songs Gordon made for Firestone's 1964 album "Your Christmas Favorites, Volume 3"!
It’s interesting how forthright MacCrae is about his alcoholism, but vague about his other illness - a stroke that affected his left side. The tell-tale signs: his bound left arm, and a slight limp when he steps in place to perform.
Wonder if he was a smoker, too. He died way too young and had head and neck cancer in addition to a stroke. In his day, he had a glorious voice, one of the best of the film musical baritones.
A heavy smoker - the cancer a likely result of that
I just read he had throat and neck cancer. That is also how Sammy Davis died. (Also a smoker) very tragic way to die-especially for a singer
His daughter Meredith died at 59 from brain cancer.bless her.
AWESOME!!!!!! HE IS SADLY MISSED!!!!!
I believe he is buried here in Lincoln, Nebraska. I loved listening to his voice when I was young. I find myself singing songs from OKLAHOMA all the time in the shower. Not quite up yo his standards though.
Good for him.
So pleased with my sweetie Gordon as he shares the same sobriety month and year with my husband and they both are not doing meetings in heaven although they are basically cured. Happy Gordon had the chance to help other suffering alcoholics because thats how the program works. I myself have 45 years of sobriety. Love you Gordon and of course my Ed.
Lovely man.
lovely man beautiful voice
Soo different faces from young age until this interwju.
How sad and bad that he should fall into alcohol. Such a handsome man..
Wish he found the Gods Paradise with Jesus and have a REALLY good and eternal life
Gone way too soon. God bless you gordon.
I had an enormous crush on him. Then I found out his movies with Doris Day were filmed 20 years before I was born..Makes time seem...I don't know. Today I did the math. When I discovered him so many years ago, he was no longer here. I still like to watch older movies but it's sad. I miss them yet they were before my time.
Vocally speaking, Gordon still had the goods in his later years!
So ironic and sad that he ended up with cancer of the mouth area.
The illness he refers to was a stroke. He wore that sling the rest of his life.
God love him for overcoming his illness. I pray God will have mercy and He will have straightened out his marriages.
Great talent and he did damage it with the use of alcohol.
I pray he was saved before he passed
He was older and sadder, but he still had it.
Is that Carol Kaye on the bass?!
BEST
Anyone know what year this was?
It says 1982 above when he was 61
Who is the girl in the photograph on the piano?
Correction on the sentence about both are now doing meetings in heaven not was an error. Trudie
There isn't any sound :-( Gordon MacRae was one of the greatest singers of all time. There isn't anyone today who is his equal. Proud that he called Nebraska home in his later years.
What a shame he sang that inferior 2nd song and had such mechanical musos accompanying him.
Truth to be told, it wasn't so much the song which is actually a pretty good one (as sung by Charlie Rich) but a combination of the arrangement and Gordon's delivery here. Gordon was a gifted singer but he was certainly past his best by 1982.
Daughter Meredith looked a lot like her Dad
Sadly, Meredith died of a brain tumor.
Xjaxx
He was good looking with a perfect voice. But big stars have failings. He came across to bland in his films to me. Sinatra would have brought more star quality to Carosel.
Sinatra had a bigger career - obviously - and, by definition, would have had more 'star quality', as you put it. Unfortunately for him, the vocal demands of playing Billy Bigelow in Carousel - and doing justice to it - were way beyond his ability. Rogers and Hammerstein were known for their exacting standards in terms of what they demanded from singers and the simple fact is, Sinatra's vocals couldn't cut it at that level. That's no disgrace, either, because very few performers could. GM was quite exceptional with an extraordinarily beautiful voice for musicals. No-one has ever sung those songs better than him - and certainly not Sinatra.
notsurfsup k
notsurfsu
Sinatra walked off Carousel (shooting had already commenced) because he discovered the double of the film for two systems, as they'd done with 'Ok', and he was notorious about his reluctance to play a scene more than once for the camera. Well, that's the official take, but I personally reckon that Sinatra knew he was in over his head and he did not have the heft, physically or vocally, for Bigelow. Gordon MacRae really was the only artist for that role. A great talent.
@@t.p.mckenna Frank Sinatra could most certainly have pulled off Billy. He did a masterful recording of Soliliqy and was a far better singer/actor than Gordon.