Our generation loved cars. Each model had its own distinct look, unlike the “wind tunnel cars” of today. Here’s a most interesting story about Bobby Darin and this spectacular hand made automobile. I know when Bobby visited my studio at KGW/Portland that was one of the main topics of discussion. However, this car must have come much later. Darin was a most talented man who came to Portland often to perform shows. He was, in a way, a hybrid singer in that he sang songs from the Sinatra era and yet could belt out rock and roll like his own hit Splish, Splash.

I recall his visit with me in 1959 where he brought me his latest album That’s All which contained the hits Mack The Knife and Beyond the Sea. I handed him the microphone and he was a deejay for part of my show broadcast live from the Portland Exhibition grounds. At the time he was on Atlantic Records subsidiary label Atco Records. They were heavily into R&B and so was Bobby.

Some found him arrogant and overly ambitious. The truth was, he knew he only had so long to live. He had rheumatic fever as a child and it damaged his heart. His family didn’t think he would make it to 16 years of age. Knowing this, he worked harder than most of his contemporaries to try and crowd in every aspect of show business he could in a short period of time. His quote just before he passed away tells it all: “My goal is to be remembered as a human being and as a great performer.” From my point of view he accomplished both.