RIP Wink Martindale

[guitarfool2002]

Just saw the news report that Wink Martindale has passed away at age 91. As a DJ Wink was an early ally for the band as they were playing shows and hops and was the emcee on quite a few of those early concerts which featured the band. According to Wink, Brian Wilson told him the first time he heard Surfin on the radio was when Wink played it on the air as Brian was driving. Search online for some of those early gig flyers and even the famous photo of the Boys with Wink and Richard "Jaws" Kiel at a teen event...

[All Summer Long]

I never realized Wink Martindale had such a BB history.  I had previously known him from his role as one of Elvis Presley's early local interviewers, and for some reason, until learning of his passing, I falsely assumed that the game shows he hosted were only Memphis-area local shows; I'll have to see if I can find some of his shows online, since I did follow him on Facebook for, I believe, two reasons: the Elvis connection and his large vault of unaired, unfinished, and/or vintage game show episodes and pilot episodes.

[Emdeeh]

I grew up in Memphis, so I remember some of this. Wink Martindale hosted Dance Party, a local take on American Bandstand in the '50s, but left for LA in the early '60s. He was also a deejay at WHBQ, the local Top 40 station which also had George Klein of Elvis' Memphis Mafia on the staff.

[Rocker]

A couple of years ago Wink did a lengthy interview with Mike:


Mike Love Interview

https://youtu.be/-45duZ1Sq38



And here is a little more about Wink and the Beach Boys, including some concert posters from his collection. The site also says "Listen to the Music of The Beach Boys and a Classic Interview from their early days on The Wink Martindale Show". This sounds like it was an interview from the 60s. I haven't heard it but I suppose it is a recent one about their early days. Maybe someone else knows more.


KWXY Presents ● A Classic Interview with The Beach Boys

https://www.kwxy.com/news/kwxy-presents-a-classic-interview-with-the-beach-boys

I grew up in Memphis, so I remember some of this. Wink Martindale hosted Dance Party, a local take on American Bandstand in the '50s, but left for LA in the early '60s. He was also a deejay at WHBQ, the local Top 40 station which also had George Klein of Elvis' Memphis Mafia on the staff.

There's footage (audio is actually longer) on youtube of Elvis being interviewed by Wink on Dance Party in the 50s.


Elvis Presley - Interview with Wink Martindale (Dance Party)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGZi4u8FVw