Satellite, Podcasts, etc.
A look at Barbra Streisand’s appearances on commercial radio broadcasts over the years, including National Public Radio, British shows, Satellite Radio and Podcasts.
The shows are in date order ....
Quick Jump: 1970s Radio...... 1980s Radio...... 1990s Radio...... 2000s Radio...... Recent Radio
Barbra Streisand made her radio debut when she was in Detroit, Michigan in 1961 appearing at the Caucus Club.
The club's publicist, Ross Chapman, booked Barbra on The Jack Harris Show, which was broadcast on Detroit's WJR radio station at 9:30 a.m. from the 21st floor of the Fisher Building. Harris would sing and interview guests on his show. In 1965, Jack Harris told the Detroit Free Press that he remembered Streisand as “a kook ... she used to get these 1920s clothes at rummage sales and that's all she used to wear ... but she was just great singing.”
Barbra's first appearance on Harris' show was on February 24, 1961 — six days before she opened at the Caucus Club.
Chapman also booked Streisand on Bud Guest's local radio show,
“Guest House,” which aired on WJR at 7:00 p.m. It was the February 28, 1961 show that featured Streisand.
The Detroit hosts interviewed Barbra Streisand on air, and she also sang for them. Barry Dennen auctioned some of the tapes of these shows in 2009 and (in no certain order) listed the songs she sang on air in Detroit: A Taste of Honey, Cry Me A River, A Sleepin' Bee, Lover Come Back to Me, When the Sun Comes Out, Soon It's Gonna Rain, Moanin' Low, and Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Streisand also was paid to record a radio commercial that the Caucus Club house pianist, Matt Michaels, hired her for. Michaels said the commercial was “for Edgewater, the amusement park. She was a screamer in the background.” But when Streisand played The Palace of Auburn Hills in 1994 she told the audience is was a cat commercial and that “it still pays me a residual of $14 a year!”
Listen to excerpts from these shows below ....
Lee Jordan “Music of Broadway”
September 1962
Jordan hosted a syndicated show on the CBS Radio Network where he interviewed Broadway stars of the day and played original cast recordings.
Jordan interviewed Barbra Streisand backstage during her run as Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get It For You Wholesale.
Three years later, Columbia Records released a compilation of his interviews on an album called The Magic of Musical Comedy.
Larry King, “Miami Uncovered”
WPST, Miami
March 1963
The Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach, where Streisand was appearing at the time, requested this radio interview to try to get her some exposure. King recalled: “At the end she says to me: ‘You don’t know me now, but someday you’re going to know me.’ ”
WBBM
Chicago, IL
June 13, 1963
During her run at Mister Kelly's, Tony Weitzel interviewed Barbra Streisand on his show.
Bob Crane Show
KNX, Los Angeles, CA
* broadcast date unknown
Barbra Streisand (probably in L.A. to tape The Dinah Shore Show) commented on the inception of her singing career and her new apartment in New York City.
Frankly Jazz with Frank Evans
KRHM, Los Angeles, CA
* probably August 1963
Robbins Nest
WNEW-AM, New York
March 28, 1964
Hosted by Fred Robbins
The opening of Ray Stark's Funny Girl on Broadway. Robbins interviews Barbra backstage; live audio of “People” from opening night; From the Rainbow Room opening night party, Robbins interviews: Ben Hecht, Sophie Tucker, Leonard Sillman, Jason Robards, Lauren Bacall, Ray Stark, Frank Farrell (NY World Telegram), Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, and Diana Kind (Streisand's mother).
30 minutes
Columbia Records promotional album
Produced by Fred Robbins (Robbins’ Nest Productions)
September 1964
Melbourne, Australia radio station 3AK
1964
Streisand contributed a few comments to this radio special about Legrand.
CBS Radio Network
September 1964
Lucille Ball's radio program consisted of daily 10-minute talks with celebrity guests and lasted one season. Lucy's interview with Barbra was split into three 10-minute parts.
BBC (U.K.)
October 1965
Syndicated
December 1965
The Christmas Seal Campaign was established in 1907 to fight tuberculosis. Special holiday seals were designed and printed, then sold at the post office for a penny each.
Barbra Streisand recorded a 14:47 minute show for the Christmas Seal campaign. The album, sent to radio stations for airing, featured Streisand speaking about Christmas Seals, plus introducing four songs—including two from her Broadway triumph in Funny Girl: “When The Sun Comes Out,” “Don't Rain On My Parade,” “My Coloring Book,” and “People.”
Meet Barbra Streisand
BBC (U.K.)
April 8, 1966
David Jacobs interviewed Barbra Streisand for BBC radio in 1966 while she was in London preparing to open the stage version of Funny Girl.
In the excerpts below, Jacobs mentions a song from Passion Flower Hotel, which Barbra recorded — “How Much of a Dream Comes True.”
Ninety Minutes with Barbra Streisand
Philadelphia WFIL
Aired: February 1966 (PA); Syndicated: July 1966
Philadelphia’s WFIL produced 52 ninety minute radio specials for syndication by Triangle program sales in 1966. The artists they spotlighted included Doris Day, Robert Goulet, Ella Fitzgerald ... and Barbra Streisand.
* Barbra Archives has never heard this! Does anyone have copies out there? It sounds like they interviewed Barbra's colleagues and Barbra herself.
Funny Girl Open End Radio Special Interview Platter
Columbia Records promotional album for radio
September 1968
Time: 58:35 minutes
The 1968 Funny Girl (movie version) radio show was shipped to radio DJs with a script so that the announcer could “interact” with Streisand.
Hello, Dolly! Complete Radio Show
20th Century Fox promotional album
December 1969
Time: 30 minutes
Streisand was recorded answering questions about her role as Dolly Levi in the 20th Century-Fox production of Jerry Herman's musical, Hello, Dolly!
The radio special also featured short interviews with Dolly's principle cast and crew, including Michael Crawford, Louis Armstrong, Walter Matthau, Gene Kelly, and Irene Sharaff.
BBC
March 18, 1976
Funny Lady Premiere - Interview
Streisand is interviewed at the Royal Premiere of the movie.
RKO Network
Dec. 26, 1976
Broadcast during Christmas 1976, this radio special featured many of Streisand's greatest hits, accompanied by interviews with Ms. Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Dustin Hoffman, and James Caan.
93 KHJ, Los Angeles
May, 1977
Kelly, a popular L.A. radio D.J., landed the role of the venomous D.J. "Bebe Jesus" in Streisand's 1976 film, A Star is Born. Streisand telephoned the station to discuss her new single, “My Heart Belongs To Me”.
“The Barbra Streisand Special”
1979 ABC Entertainment Radio Network Interview
June 1979
“Barbra Streisand Special” Credits
ABC Entertainment radio features produced a 51-minute radio program, The Barbra Streisand Special, which aired on 400 stations across the country the week of June 17, 1979, to coincide with the release of Streisand's eleventh motion picture, The Main Event.
Streisand's songs were intercut with the interview. Barbra's friends and co-workers were also interviewed.
The 2-LP set, as sent to radio stations, included a program operations sheet with listings of songs, and time and cue instructions. ABC used master tapes from Columbia Records to put the show together.
“The Legend of Barbra Streisand”
Westwood One / Columbia
November 1983
“Legend” Credits
Released to radio stations in 1983 to promote Yentl, this 2-LP interview album contained excerpts from Streisand's most popular song hits.
Mutual Broadcasting System
February 16, 1992
Hosted by: Jim Lang
2-1/2 hour radio show with songs from Streisand's Just For The Record box set.
BBC Radio 1 (U.K.)
February 21, 26, 27, 1992
The interview with Simon Bates aired in three parts, with Bates playing “Places That Belong To You” (from The Prince of Tides) several times, as well as selections from Just For The Record. Streisand spoke about her desire to make The Normal Heart; people's idiosyncrasies; creating Just For The Record; her reputation; and whether she's happy.
CBS Radio Network
September 1964
BBC Radio 2 (U.K.)
March 1992
Gloria Hunniford interviewed Barbra Streisand on her daily radio show on BBC Radio 2. Streisand and Hunniford talked about The Prince of Tides, her son Jason, singing, and Streisand's early days performing in clubs.
(Final four songs)
WLTW-FM, New York
July 12, 1994
WLTW broadcast the last four songs from Streisand's final concert at Madison Square Garden.
BBC Radio 2 (U.K.)
May 3, 2003
Streisand contributed a few comments to this radio special about Legrand.
National Public Radio
October 13, 2003
Barbra Streisand on Singing, Music and the Movies. Susan Stamberg interviews Streisand on the release of The Movie Album.
BBC Radio 2 (U.K.)
October 26, 2003
Russell Davies presentedBarbra Streisand on Radio 2. Streisand discussed her astonishing life and career.
AP Radio Network
December 17, 2003
Brief interview with Waldman about The Movie Album.
KPRS in St. Louis, Missouri; WASN/WRBT/WGFT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; KEZK in St. Louis Missouri; WIKY in Indiana; KPLV in Las Vegas, Nevada; and WYXB in Indianapolis, Indiana
November 3, 2008
Barbra participated in call-in interviews to local radio stations, encouraging people to go out and vote. Streisand took caller questions on five channels on Monday from roughly 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
[Promotional CD—1 hour show]
April 2009
Hosted by Valerie Knight, this one-hour radio special contained four segments of Barbra’s patter and music from the 3-DVD set Streisand: The Concerts. (Songs included: Starting Here, Starting Now; The Way We Were; Evergreen; Funny Girl; People; What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?; The Music of the Night; Stoney End/Happy Days; and Don't Rain On My Parade).
There was no new material here, only Ms. Knight introducing excerpts from the 2006 concert.
NPR Weekend Edition
September 25, 2009
n a telephone interview from The Village Vanguard, proprietor Lorraine Gordon told host Scott Simon the story of Streisand's first appearance at the club. (4:56 minutes)
National Public Radio
October 13, 2003
Barbra Streisand on Singing, Music and the Movies. Susan Stamberg interviews Streisand on the release of The Movie Album.
BBC Radio 2
October 3, 2009
Paul Gambaccini spoke to Barbra Streisand about her new album Love Is The Answer. The interview was interwoven with recordings from Streisand's back catalogue, as she reflected on past achievements and talked about the process of recording a double album with Diana Krall's jazz quartet and the orchestral arranger Johnny Mandel. (2 hours)
2-CD Question & Answer Promo
September 2009
On this 2-CD set, meant to publicize her 2009 album, Love is the Answer, Barbra Streisand discusses her new album, including the creative process that went into the production and repertoire selection.
NPR — Weekend Edition Saturday
December 11, 2010
Streisand discussed her new book, My Passion For Design. (10:03 minutes)
BBC Radio 2
September 4, 2011
From her home in Malibu, Barbra chatted with Academy Award-winning lyricist Don Black. (1:30:00 minutes)
Public Radio International
April 20, 2012
Streisand guested via telephone on this weekly program from PRI hosted by Cornel West & Tavis Smiley. The hosts interviewed Alan and Marilyn Bergman about their career; Streisand called in to discuss her dear friends.
Listen online at www.smileyandwest.com
or go to iTunes and download the Podcast.
NPR
December 17, 2012
Terry Gross gave us a thorough, 45-minute interview with Barbra Streisand, who was promoting her film, The Guilt Trip.
SiriusXM (satellite radio)
Sirius channel 69 & XM channel 73
September 12 — October 10, 2014
The Barbra Streisand Channel—an exclusive, limited-run channel—featured music spanning Streisand's legendary career, from her 1963 debut through her newest album, Partners. The channel was fully dedicated to Barbra Streisand's extensive body of work and included selections from her live and studio recordings. The channel also included Streisand's personal introductions and song selections from her catalog, spanning 50 years.
SiriusXM (satellite radio)
September 14, 2014
The Barbra Streisand Channel featured an exclusive “Town Hall” special — an intimate Q&A session recorded with a select group of listeners in the SiriusXM studios in New York City. Moderated by her longtime colleague, music industry executive Jay Landers, “SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Barbra Streisand” aired on Sunday, September 14 at 12:00 pm ET
WBUR, aired on NPR
November 14, 2014
Host Robin Young interviewed Barbra Streisand and Dr. Noel Bairey Merz (Director, Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center) about women's heart health and the #iamtheladykiller campaign.
BBC 2 Radio
December 20, 2014
Graham Norton interviewed Streisand over the phone about her album, Partners.
CBS (New York)
February 20, 2015
Barbra was voted #1 Iconic New York Celebrity by listeners, and she participated in a 15-minute phone interview.
NPR
August 20, 2016
Streisand spoke with NPR's Scott Simon about making the album, Encore, leaving Broadway for Hollywood and how she convinced Apple to change the way Siri pronounces a particular word.
Listen to the interview on NPR
SiriusXM (satellite radio)
Sirius channel 18
September 6 — October 4, 2016
The Barbra Streisand Channel returned to Sirius —an exclusive, limited-run channel featuring music spanning Streisand's legendary career. Streisand recorded unique intros to some of the songs.
SiriusXM (satellite radio)
September 7, 2016
A special SiriusXM Town Hall with Barbra Streisand, hosted by actor Patrick Wilson, aired on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. ET on The Barbra Streisand Channel.
WNYC, New York
April 26, 2017
Leonard Lopate interviewed Barbra Streisand on the telephone for 34 minutes.
WNYC, New York
October 17, 2017
An intimate conversation with host Alec Baldwin. Inside her Malibu home, the two friends speak about Barbra’s childhood, how the communist government in Czechoslovakia offered up the Czech Jewish community to be extras in Yentl, and the relief of getting behind the camera after years in front of it.
The Hollywood Reporter Podcast
June 13, 2018
Scott Feinberg interviewed Streisand about her career, and her Netflix specials.
BBC RADIO 2
April 1, 2019
Barbra Streisand chats to Zoe Ball about her UK summer performance in London's Hyde Park and her love of British food, from scones to shepherd’s pie.
BBC RADIO 2
July 29, 2021
Barbra Streisand called in to Zoe’s show to discuss Release Me 2, and writing her memoir.
SiriusXM
March 22, 2022
Julie James hosted “Giants in the Sky: A Stephen Sondheim Celebration” for his birthday. James included a short, recorded memory from Barbra about recording Sondheim's songs.
NPR
November 18, 2022
Barbra Streisand remembers the first time she 'felt the warmth of a spotlight' (Bon Soir interview).
NPR
December 25, 2022
This is a longer, 19-minute version of Rachel Martin’s November interview about the Bon Soir album and more.
SiriusXM
November 7, 2023
Howard Stern interviewed Streisand for nearly two hours on his show; her first time appearing on it.
End / Radio
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