Arthur Godfrey: The Adventures of an American Broadcaster

“Somehow this man who was considered by many to be the greatest communicator of the century, a man who influenced the course of broadcasting, who had created careers for scores of performers, who had literally put large corporations in business through his commercials for them, could not come to grips with putting his life on paper.”

Arthur Godfrey’s voice was once the most recognized in America. At one time, he was on radio and television sixteen hours a week with three different top-ten shows and was responsible for 12 percent of CBS’s annual revenues. His popular and gentle persona masked, however, a fiery temper that eventually toppled him from superstar status.

The only book-length biography of the vastly talented and influential broadcasting pioneer, offering an analysis of a defining era in broadcasting and providing a clear lesson about the pitfalls of fame and success.

What People Are Saying

“In depth study of one of the industry’s earliest voices. Book presents Godfrey as trailblazer for the industry.”

Variety

“Singer’s book explains all this, quite nicely. It also explains that in private Godfrey often was not a nice man…indifferent to his family, abrupt with his colleagues, difficult to work with….But the book focuses on the high times, the good years, because they were the ones when Godfrey was shaping the business–a business that many people think was more endearing before it became a mega-corporate profit center.”

David Hinckley, NY Daily News

“Singer’s Arthur Godfrey is scholastically brilliant, romantically inspiring, and furthermore, the most fascinating show business biography I have ever read.”

Kreskin, mentalist/entertainer

“Excellent book.”

Dick Cavett (on NYTimes.com)

“Singer not only gets the facts right, he gets Godfrey right. A considerable achievement… A terrific book.”

Kent Schroder (on BostonPete.com)

“An interesting and complete biography of Arthur Godfrey, deftly weaving the history of broadcasting (both dradio and TV) with the life of Mr. Godfrey including his passions (flying, horses and at times, women), his need to control, his sincere patriotism and his slow demise.”

Alan L. Sack (on Amazon.com)

“Godfrey As Godfather To Today’s Chat Culture” (New York Daily News, January 8, 2000)

SUGGESTED LINKS
“Arthur Godfrey and His Friends” (Archive of American Television)

“Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” (Archive of American Television)