(0:34) Hello and a very big welcome to you. (0:37) Thanks for joining me for the very last of our holiday shows. (0:41) This one completes my countdown of favourite episodes (0:44) and I’m sure you’ll agree why it has taken out first place.
(1:07) I’m turning and freezing and burning and crying all through the night. (1:16) Oh, Julie, Julie, Julie, do you love me? (1:23) Julie, Julie, Julie, do you care? (1:29) Julie, Julie, are you thinking of me? (1:35) Julie, Julie, will you still be there? (1:43) Julie, Julie, Julie, do you love me? (1:47) I chased 60s teen idol Bobby Sherman for the better part of two years (1:52) before his manager and wife finally relented and granted me an interview. (1:57) I was a child when Bobby was at the height of his fame, but I remember he was everywhere.
(2:02) Topping the charts as a singer, acting on multiple television series, (2:07) adorning the walls of teenage girls the world over. (2:11) But then Bobby Sherman seemed to disappear from his high profile celebrity life. (2:16) I wanted to find out where he went and what he’s been doing since.
(2:20) Bobby and his wife Brigitte are with me now. (2:22) Bobby Sherman, welcome to a breath of fresh air. (2:25) Let’s go back to the start where you were a bit of a jock at high school, weren’t you? (2:29) Not really.
(2:31) Basically in high school I played football and I did pretty well. (2:35) But when I went on to college, I didn’t play football there. (2:39) What were you studying at college? (2:41) Basically child psychology.
(2:43) Really? (2:44) Yeah. (2:44) I was thinking about becoming a child psychologist. (2:49) And you were railroaded, weren’t you? (2:51) Can you tell us the story about how you were discovered as a singer? (2:54) Basically I played in the dance band.
(2:58) I was musically inclined, period. (3:01) And then there was a private party being held for the cast of The Greatest Story Ever Told, (3:06) the George Stevens picture. (3:16) I happened to be invited to it.
(3:18) It would be easier to say who wasn’t there rather than who was there (3:22) because everybody was there. (3:24) And two of the people who I absolutely loved was basically there was Jane Fonda and Natalie Wood. (3:30) And Sal Menier was the one that was running the party.
(3:32) And I was there in awe. (3:35) And somebody knew I happened to sing, whatever, because I would sing at parties or stuff like that. (3:41) They said, come on, Bobby, sing.
(3:42) And I said, oh, no, it’s not my party. (3:44) And they said, come on, please, Bobby, please. (3:46) And so I said, well, what do you got? (3:48) So they had a record player and a stack of 45s.
(3:51) And I said, well, I’ll try. (3:54) And so I went through it, and there was one song, 445, that was Freddie Cannon’s Palisades Park. (4:36) And so I put it on, and I did a little shtick with it and sang to it.
(4:41) And everyone seemed to love it. (4:42) And there was a couple of people there that were, they said, well, hey, you’re pretty good. (4:46) You know, who’s handling you? (4:48) And I didn’t know what to make of that because I thought it was a suggestion.
(4:53) And I said, you know, nobody. (4:56) And next thing I know, they sent me to an agent who said, you know, hey, we’d like to handle you. (5:02) And I said, well, okay, what do I do? (5:05) They said, well, we’ll give you a call.
(5:07) And they did. (5:08) And there was a cast. (5:10) I don’t know if it was casting.
(5:11) It was an audition of some sort for a show that was going to be called Shindig. (5:17) And I went to ABC Studios, and they said, okay, we’ll do something. (5:23) And I said, you know, so guess what I did? (5:25) Freddie Cannon’s Palisades Park.
(5:27) And they said, okay, you’re pretty good. (5:28) And they said, we’ll get back to you. (5:32) And they did.
(5:33) And they said, how would you like to do 26 of our shows? (5:36) And I had no idea what I was doing. (5:38) And I said, what am I supposed to do? (5:40) And next thing I know, they had me kind of like up and rehearsing. (5:44) And next thing I know, I was doing 26 shows called Shindig.
(5:48) From ABC Television Center in Hollywood, Shindig. (5:57) ♪♪ (6:16) It just kind of blossomed from there. (6:20) And I lucked out.
(6:21) That’s all I can say. (6:22) And then I was getting a lot of mail and a lot of good responses. (6:25) And so they decided that, you know, maybe we should keep this guy.
(6:28) And which I did. (6:29) You know, I stayed with him for a while, (6:31) and then I ended up doing some stuff for ABC Television. (6:34) And I did a lot of series, a lot of guest shots, things like that.
(6:38) And that kind of wove itself into the acting career. (6:41) And one thing led to another. (6:43) And, you know, I wasn’t sitting there formulating it.
(6:46) I just kind of went with the flow. (6:48) Amazing. (6:48) So singing had always been a love of yours.
(6:51) You said that you used to sing when you went to other people’s parties. (6:54) Were you formally trained to sing or was it something (6:57) that you just liked to do? (6:58) I took a couple of singing lessons kind of thing. (7:02) And the lady who was a vocal coach, that was it.
(7:05) That was my formal training. (7:07) And I was doing shows and I was doing guest shots. (7:11) You know, I just kept going.
(7:12) And one thing led to another. (7:14) Next thing I know I’m doing, you know, I’m getting 25,000 letters a week. (7:18) Had you come from a musical family? (7:20) Well, my dad played guitar and I played trumpet.
(7:25) At that point, so family or whatever would come over, (7:27) he’d play guitar and I’d play trumpet, and everyone got a big kick out of it. (7:31) And so it kind of like just kept going. (7:33) And I think it was because of that that I was able (7:35) to make it work into a career.
(7:38) All right. (7:39) So when you started with ABC, you mentioned you were getting (7:42) something like 25,000 fan letters a week. (7:46) How did that feel for you? (7:47) Were you a bit overwhelmed? (7:49) Well, I was very overwhelmed.
(7:51) But I think really what it came down to is that the success of Here Come (7:54) the Brides, which was a show that I did, and that’s when the mail (7:57) really started coming in. (7:58) And then people were calling me a teenage idol, and, you know, (8:02) I wasn’t sure if I resented that or not. (8:04) But I said, okay.
(8:05) And it just kept going. (8:08) I started putting out records and they were selling (8:10) and I was getting gold records and I was getting platinum records. (8:15) I was doing great.
(8:16) And I had no idea what I was doing. (8:41) Full of hopes and full of tears. (8:45) Full of laughter, full of tears.
(8:49) Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle. (8:56) In Seattle. (8:59) Must have felt incredibly surreal.
(9:02) Yeah, I never really thought much about, you know, (9:04) A, when did it start? (9:06) How is it going to keep going? (9:07) I did, I really never formulated anything except for the fact that it just was there and I tried to, (9:14) I was very thankful without a doubt, but at the same time I was very, I was shy and you know, (9:21) but somehow being in front of the camera and all that, it kind of like lifted that shyness (9:27) and I did my job and then I kind of go home and hide. What do you mean you went home and hide? (9:32) Were you able to have a social life yourself? Not really, no, I was really kind of a recluse. (9:39) Bobby actually is very shy, that’s the word, so am I actually.
(9:43) Really? Brigitte, were you a fan of Bobby’s? (9:46) You’re obviously too young to have known him when he made it big. (9:52) I was 13 years old when I first saw Bobby on American Bandstand. I never went to his concerts, (9:57) never had any posters on my wall because we were very poor, but I did every now and then put my (10:02) foot down because I wanted to watch Shikum the Bride, so my mum finally said okay, once a month (10:08) I get to watch Shikum the Bride.
The rest of the time my brothers and sisters took over the TV set. (10:12) So you saw him on TV when you were 14 years old, did you have a crush on him then? (10:17) Yeah, I thought he was good looking, I was so young and naive, (10:21) he came from refugees from Indonesia. I just thought he was cute and adorable.
(10:25) He was. I still am. (10:27) You still are, that’s right, that’s exactly what I was going to say, Bobby Sherman, (10:32) absolutely.
Bobby, so if you were so shy in living this kind of reclusive life and as you put it, (10:38) a bit of a loner, you were out there with hundreds of thousands of (10:43) adoring girls who just wanted to get close to you, was there anybody that you had a crush on? (10:49) Basically Natalie Wood and Jane Fonda because I knew them and they were stars (10:54) and I was lucky to know them. That was kind of it, I was too busy to really settle down (11:02) with one particular person because I was always on the go and I was always working. (12:09) I understand that.
Jane Fonda, I think I had a crush on, I think I’ve still got a (12:14) girl crush on these days, she was amazing and Natalie Wood was equally beautiful. (12:20) So when all these girls had their teenage crushes on you, there was nobody that you’d been at school (12:26) with, there was only Jane Fonda and Natalie Wood that you could think of. (12:29) Well, yeah, I mean there were girls that I dated and there was a couple of girls that I did have (12:35) crushes on and all that and they weren’t in the business so it was kind of fleeting because (12:39) I’d be off doing a concert someplace and I’d be pretty much alone and then you’d go out in a (12:46) concert, you’d have 15, 20,000 kids screaming where you couldn’t even hear yourself think and (12:53) it was like a whirlwind kind of life.
And then you go back to the hotel room (12:57) a lot. I’ve heard it said although it seems such a glamorous life, it’s actually quite a lonely life. (13:02) Most definitely.
Oh, you should hear something funny. (13:05) One family was so desperate to see Bobby, she shipped herself and a box to Bobby. (13:11) Tell me that story.
(13:15) Basically, I was in a hotel room, you know, after doing concert whatever and there was a knock at (13:20) the door and then there was something about a delivery, I don’t know who delivered it actually, (13:26) but I opened the door and there’s a box and I, you know, it was, you know, basically postage and (13:31) it looked very legit and I wondered, you know, so I opened it up and there’s a girl. (13:37) It’s just, I said, but I went, so she was under age so, but she had to leave the room. (13:46) Well, return to sender.
(13:48) Return to sender indeed. (13:51) It was, but, you know, I’ve had a lot of experience. I’ve had girls that were, (13:55) they would climb out on the fire escapes of the hotel rooms, all right, and I, you know, (13:59) I was so worried about them falling out and falling down and all that stuff that, you know, (14:04) really, I said, the security really has to be tightened up guys.
And it wasn’t that I was (14:08) worried about me as much as I was worried about them because they would throw caution to the wind (14:14) and just do crazy things in order to get close. So I lucked out. (14:20) You were really one of the very first teen idols, weren’t you? I put it out on Facebook, (14:25) asking your fans what they would like to know from you, what they would ask you these days, (14:31) if they had an opportunity to.
And so many of them still, I mean, and they’re all obviously women (14:37) beyond 60, girls everywhere plastered their walls with photos of you and had all your records and (14:45) cut out your record on the back of the Raisin Bran packet, collected the beads that you used (14:51) to wear. There was a lot of merchandise around Bobby Sherman at the time. I remember myself, (14:56) but a lonely life.
It was, we didn’t stop for a minute to think how life was for you. All that (15:02) was in our minds was getting a piece of you, getting close to you. Was it an enjoyable experience (15:07) overall, having all this adoration? Oh, I would say overall.
Yeah. Once I was able to catch a (15:13) breath every now and then. Yeah.
I really did enjoy it. And mainly because I watched them, (15:19) them being the fans and all that kind of, I watched them enjoy it. And I got more enjoyment (15:25) out of them than I did out of me.
And they were always, I just, it was an incredible experience. (15:34) I don’t know. Everyone said, what’s it like to be idolized like that? And I said, I never really (15:39) thought much about it other than the fact that all I wanted to do was do my best to please my (15:44) audience.
And so I, you know, I, there was, there was a lot of stuff that went on that it was very (15:49) crazy, but it, but all in all, I never got any complaints except from parents. I say a lot of (15:56) people would say like the, the Raisin Bran thing, they would, they would basically blame me for it (16:03) because the kids would get the box of Raisin Bran and immediately cut out the record. And then Raisin (16:08) Bran was all over the floor.
They wouldn’t eat the cereal. Yeah. I’m sorry.
I got that Raisin Bran. (16:16) I got off eBay, paid $200 for it. It’s over 25 years old.
It’s probably stale by now, right? (16:22) That’s hilarious. I mean, it’s that techno, I can’t believe that was even doable technology (16:27) at the time. I wonder if you could repeat that today.
And today when vinyl is more, (16:32) more popular selling more than CDs where the, I don’t even understand how you could play a, (16:37) a record made from paper. And it did play. I was astonished that they were able to do it.
(16:43) And they sold a lot of cereal. Nobody ate it, but they played it. (17:40) Bobby Sherman’s La La La If I Had You was one of several of the hits that could be cut out from (17:46) the back of a cereal box.
But he wasn’t the only artist to be using breakfast cereal to reach (17:52) young fans. The Archies, the Monkees and the Jackson 5 did same. Stay tuned as Bobby continues his story.
Seg 2
(0:00) This is a breath of fresh air with Sandy Kay. (0:08) Thanks for hanging in. I hope you’re enjoying hearing from 60s teen idol (0:13) Bobby Sherman as much as I’m loving chatting with him.
As you’ve already (0:17) heard, Bobby is open and receptive to being asked most (0:21) anything. I wanted to know if he, unlike many of his (0:25) contemporaries, had been wise with the money he’d been making as a result (0:29) of all that hard work and millions in record sales. (0:33) So, did he just blow it on expensive cars and lifestyle? (0:37) No, I spoiled myself a little bit but nothing too bad.
I mean, (0:41) I bought a Rolls Royce but that’s what I wanted to do. You bought a house? (0:45) I bought a house. I bought a 727 (0:49) airplane but I didn’t do that.
We did that for a business reason and we (0:52) farmed that out for people. Elton John used it and actually (0:57) the eldest used it as well. Colonel Parker used it.
(1:01) Basically, a lot of good investment. Did a lot of investments in oil (1:05) and stuff like that. I was pretty much comfortable (1:08) for the rest of my life. You were savvy enough to do that because so many of your (1:13) contemporaries just blew all that money and today when they’re a little bit older (1:16) have really nothing to show for it anymore. That’s absolutely true and it’s (1:21) kind of pathetic and sad that makes you sit back and say, I wish (1:25) they’d have the wherewithal to where you put money for good use (1:29) not just for immediate use. I lucked out.
Yeah, well you (1:33) certainly deserved it. They worked you hard for several years. How many years (1:37) was that intense period? I don’t know.
I was kind of always busy (1:41) and doing a lot of guest shots. You kept me active and all that. You know, the murder (1:45) she wrote in Cades County.
You also produced a couple of books. (1:49) Oh yeah, a lot of producing and directing. (1:51) So I diversified.
I kept myself (1:55) busy doing other things than just being Bobby (1:59) Sherman. How was that transition into acting for you? (2:04) Were you confident then with what you were doing or you were still winging it? (2:08) Oh no, I pretty much felt pretty confident with acting because when I did (2:11) Here Come the Brides, when that played on ABC television, that’s when all (2:16) the millions of responses came in. So I was already acting (2:20) because when I did that, I was Jeremy Bolt for two and a half years.
I did (2:24) pretty well as an actor. Bobby, you’re this wholesome (2:27) all-around nice guy. Don’t you have a mean edge, a mean hard (2:32) edge to you at all? I don’t know.
What do you think, Bridget? (2:37) I just slapped her. No, I’m kidding. (2:39) It doesn’t sound like you do or if you do, neither of you are going to tell me about (2:44) it for sure.
No, I really don’t. I don’t (2:48) think I do. I don’t think I have a hard edge.
Bob’s always been trying to keep everything (2:52) on the surface. I keep things amicable, especially (2:56) when there’s a star that I felt that he should have better (3:00) writing stuff for him on Here Come the Brides. So that’s why a lot of times (3:04) Bob was not nominated because there was some rivalry competition.
(3:08) So the image we saw of Bobby Sherman, no matter what you were doing, was really (3:12) who you were. There was no kind of Hollywood painting anything (3:16) different about you. You were this all-around nice guy and you still (3:20) are.
Thank you. Again, it was one of the things I just (3:24) learned by my parents to be humble, to be a good boy (3:28) out there and everything. And so that’s what I did.
And I never took the time to let it go (3:32) to my head. (4:05) If you’ll please just take the time, cause it’s such a lovely (4:09) morning. Won’t you walk with me and talk (4:13) with me a while, Mr. Sun? (4:20) I’ve been (4:21) running all my life now in search of something I can’t find.
(4:25) I’ve been chasing rainbows. They’re just visions (4:29) in my mind. There’s a lot of lonely people just like (4:33) me who need someone.
You see, everybody needs (4:37) a friend to walk with and talk with (4:41) sometimes, Mr. Sun. (4:47) He was a golden boy who was (4:49) well-rounded. He never liked controversy, kept that (4:53) always away from everything.
How could you not let it go to your head though? (4:57) How can you be one of the biggest stars on the planet, (5:01) the teen idol at the time? I mean, David Cassidy came along (5:04) a little bit later. Yeah, David and I, actually David and I were friends. (5:08) But I really just didn’t have time to have an ego.
(5:12) I just kept working and doing my thing and trying to (5:16) teach kids that I loved kids and that’s why I wanted to be a child psychologist. (5:20) And so I would try to lead them in the right direction. So that’s what (5:24) kept me busy.
And I didn’t really have time to sit in front of a mirror. (5:28) I was fairly content with what God had given me. I’m sure (5:32) you would have been much more than just content.
You should have been so (5:36) grateful. A lot of people tell me that they were so busy during the (5:40) era of the peak of popularity that they almost missed the (5:44) entire decade. Was that what it was like for you? Yes, it was (5:48) very fast but I managed to always be able to take time (5:53) to reflect and be appreciative of (5:56) not only the things that had happened to me, but it was the fans too.
(6:00) The only reason that you become successful is because of those fans. They’re the (6:04) ones that did it. And I said, you know, they’re the ones (6:08) who should have all the medals and gold and all that kind of stuff because (6:12) I never bought a Bobby Truman record.
Well, basically, Bob, your life was (6:16) a whirlwind. There was so much you kept busy that everything (6:20) taught Bobby to remember all the little things because it was a whirlwind. (6:24) Bobby never got to really have some private life because he was so busy (6:28) working.
(6:55) And I have a cry (6:57) like a baby (6:59) in the darkness of my room (7:03) Nobody there to hold my trembling hand (7:08) And I cry like a baby (7:11) in the darkness of my room (7:15) With nobody there to love or understand (7:22) Did you have (7:25) somebody take care of sending mail back to the fans to respond (7:28) or photos out, that sort of stuff? Yeah, there was a fan club (7:33) service or that kind of thing that did that stuff. But I had a couple of bad (7:37) people that stole money and did some bad things (7:41) that unfortunately I felt very bad about. But at the same time (7:45) I can’t reflect back and say, well, now let me erase this.
It’s (7:48) onward and upward and just enjoy the life I have. Yeah, of course. (7:52) I miss those days of fan clubs.
I think they were awesome. Those days (7:56) have well and truly gone, haven’t they? Oh, yeah. What can I tell you? (8:00) So, Bobby, after those few years of intense work (8:04) how did it all come to an abrupt halt? What happened? (8:08) Had you simply had enough? Were you worn out? No, probably (8:12) I wanted to ease out of it slowly but at the same time it never was abrupt.
(8:16) Things just kind of like I took the initiative of saying, you know, (8:20) I don’t really feel like doing that or I don’t feel like going there or whatever the case is. (8:24) It just caught up with me and at the same time I didn’t want to say (8:28) poo-poo to anybody. So I don’t know how (8:32) to respond to that because I never really was aware that it came (8:36) to an end abruptly.
I know it came to an end (8:40) but in a different way because as far as I’m concerned (8:44) I’m just doing different things, which makes it a lot different for me. (9:14) Just thinkin’ about the chump I’ve been (9:18) I have to smile, didn’t I know (9:22) Easy come and easy go (9:25) She wasn’t kind, I wasn’t smart (9:30) I lost my mind and fell apart (9:33) I had to find myself in time (9:37) Now I can start all over again just hangin’ around (9:44) Takin’ it slow (9:47) So happy I found I still can smile (9:50) And in the show, let me know (9:54) Easy come, easy go (10:05) You said you started doing different things. What sort of things? (10:08) I built a recording studio and all of a sudden I was recording (10:12) other people and the producing and stuff like that (10:16) just other things that took me away from the limelight (10:20) which was fine with me.
I didn’t mind. I wasn’t thirsty for that kind (10:24) of stardom as much as I was just to keep active as opposed (10:28) to hanging up the reins and going away. I still (10:32) wanted to do things.
We have a children’s center foundation (10:36) Yeah, I want to talk to you about that. But if we can just, if you don’t mind (10:40) I’ll build up there. Sure.
So when you kind of took yourself away from the (10:44) limelight, fans didn’t know what had happened to you and were missing you big (10:48) time. But you resurfaced again when you started working with the (10:52) LA Police Department. That’s true.
Well I became a medic (10:57) EMTD, D for defibrillation (11:00) and I started doing that and the LAPD heard about (11:04) me and my abilities as an EMT and an (11:08) instructor. So I basically went over there and then went through the whole process of the (11:12) academy and I became a police officer but also I became an (11:16) instructor. So I would teach new officers their first aid and their CPR (11:22) and nothing’s funnier than teaching (11:24) an emergency childbirth to some future cops (11:27) when you show them the film and all that, there are these big burly guys (11:32) who are going to be cops and they’re watching the film and they start passing out (11:38) Hey guys, it’s getting worse than this (11:40) So I did that.
35 years. Yeah, I was with (11:44) the LAPD for 35 years. 35 years, how amazing.
(11:48) What got you interested in doing this in the first place? (11:51) The medical end of it, well first of all I brought both Christopher and Tyler (11:56) my sons, I helped bring them into the world (11:59) in more than one way, in the delivery (12:03) and all that stuff. So between that and I had an ACT form (12:07) so it was easier for me to teach and then I went with (12:11) the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department for 8 years and pretty much did (12:15) the same thing. It was a labour of love, that’s all I can tell you.
I mean (12:19) I really enjoyed every minute of it and I still do. Wow, what an (12:23) incredible change and to be able to handle the difference in (12:27) careers and go with it. Did they treat you like the star that you were there (12:31) or you were just one of them? They did a little bit.
(12:33) They were a little bit gun shy (12:38) but once they realised I was just one of them and (12:42) I just happened to know some things more than they did and that’s why I’m going to teach them (12:46) then they took it all in stride and they all became friends and (12:51) every now and then I run into some of them out there in the field and (12:55) they say, hey Officer Sherman how are you doing? I say, yes, fine, how about you guys? (12:59) They say, fine. I had to deliver a baby the other day. (13:03) I say, good for you guys.
One of my triumphs (13:07) is the fact that I delivered a roadside delivery of a (13:11) little girl and the mother pointed to her little (13:15) daughter who was just born and pointed to her (13:19) and said, Roberta. (13:22) I said, uh oh. (13:24) This is your husband, not me.
(13:52) When you’re with me (13:54) I feel sunshine even when I’m (13:58) standing in the rain. Something happens (14:02) that I can’t explain when I hear your name but you (14:06) can’t help it that you’re always chasing rainbows in your (14:10) mind. There’s so much I want to say to you and (14:14) there’s so little time.
Hey little woman (14:18) please make up your mind. You’ve got to come into (14:22) my world and leave your world behind. Come on now.
(14:27) Na na na na na na na na (14:30) You’ve got to come down from that cloud girl and leave (14:34) your world behind. (14:38) I can imagine you don’t want to share the stories around delivering your own (14:42) two sons, do you? Well there’s really not much to it. I mean it’s the normal delivery (14:46) and I knew what to expect.
You were just present in the room in the hospital. You didn’t actually (14:50) do the delivery yourself. I didn’t do the hands on.
No I didn’t want to do that because (14:54) I think I would have been too emotional. It was emotional anyway but (14:58) it went smoothly. I never had any problems.
You told me in the delivery room (15:02) you couldn’t understand why all the yelling and screaming was right from the (15:06) pain. Yeah well I just said you know I don’t understand what’s going on but I can find this absolutely (15:10) painless. But in those days it was very unusual for (15:14) fathers to even be present in the delivery room, wasn’t it? That’s absolutely correct.
(15:18) You had to get permission and you had to assure (15:22) them that you knew what you were doing which I did and a couple (15:26) of the doctors that I ran into they already knew. They said hey you want to help (15:30) I’m making a delivery. You want to help me out? Because they could use it.
(15:34) Bobby has a love also for Disney. Bobby built Disney on the street in his backyard. (15:38) I love the Disney thing.
Disneyland was (15:42) something that when I went to my, I don’t remember how old I was, but I went (15:46) to it and I fell in love with it and I started building. I came home and got scraps of (15:50) balls and started building a little miniature Disneyland in my folks (15:54) backyard and they let me do it. That probably was a big point of it (15:58) because if they said no you can’t because they took up 23 feet (16:01) by 23 feet of the backyard and my folks said okay go ahead.
(16:06) After that I basically built another one. (16:10) This 1 5th scale of Main Street and that was up (16:14) for quite a while and then the elements got to that and then Bridget got (16:17) herself involved and had the same street built in the (16:22) backyard. So it’s there now.
It’s still getting a lot of attention. (16:26) We had a grand opening where he was there with John Stamos and Bobby (16:29) cut the ribbon and with all the neighbors passing by and stopping by for last month (16:34) They still do. Yeah, they still do.
(16:35) I’m walking right down the middle of Main Street (16:39) USA (16:43) It’s the heart of America, the heartbeat of a holiday (16:49) The place was made (16:51) with a magical plan and just around the corner is a (16:55) fantasy land. I’m walking right down the middle of Main Street (16:59) USA (17:00) I hear the music (17:04) playing from the old time ragtime band (17:09) I hear the whole place swaying with the people (17:12) from across the land (17:15) How many talents can one man have? You can sing, you can act (17:20) you can play instruments, you can administer CPR and deliver (17:24) babies and you can build things. You’re a handyman as well (17:28) Wow, Bridget, you lucked out (17:30) Thank you.
What can I say (17:37) It’s upbringing. I didn’t set out to say this is what (17:40) I’m going to do next. It just happened.
So he never planned anything (17:44) Even his meeting with his now second wife, Bridget (17:48) came as a complete surprise. Don’t go anywhere, we’ll be (17:52) back in a sec to find out about the many ways that Bobby and Bridget (17:56) make the lives of hundreds of children a whole lot better.
Seg 3
(0:00) This is a breath of fresh air with Sandy Kay. (0:04) It’s a beautiful day. (0:08) Welcome back.
I’m sure you’ll agree the story of Bobby Sherman’s journey to the top of the hit parade (0:14) and his subsequent career change is a fascinating one. (0:18) After his first marriage failed, Bobby wasn’t looking for love again. (0:22) But when he met Bridget Poublon, he immediately knew he had found it.
(0:27) Somebody that she was dating at the time, she had said something about Bobby Sherman (0:32) and he got in touch with my manager and said, (0:35) what would it take for Bobby to show up at my girlfriend’s 40th birthday party? (0:40) And at first I was kind of reluctant, but basically I got there. (0:45) It was a surprise birthday party. I was only supposed to be there for 20 minutes.
(0:49) And then Bobby escaped by the whole party for two hours. (0:53) He held my hand the whole time. (0:54) I had been teaching a class at the academy, so I was in uniform.
(0:58) When she came through the door and saw me standing there in uniform, (1:01) I don’t think she knew who I was right away, but I think she thought I was a male stripper. (1:05) I did at first. (1:07) She probably would have loved that.
(1:09) Yeah, and Bobby took a second look. (1:11) That’s the point where we met. (1:13) And we kept in touch because the philanthropy work I was doing, (1:16) and Bobby made a lot of appearances at the fundraisers that I chaired as well.
(1:22) Bridget, you obviously liked Bobby Sherman. (1:25) That’s why your boyfriend thought to bring him to your party. (1:28) You were obviously enamored with him.
(1:30) Yes, he was very much a gentleman and an officer, just like the movie. (1:33) An officer temper, yes. (1:34) I figured he had a girlfriend.
I never asked him. (1:37) He thought I had a fiancée at the time or a boyfriend at the time, (1:40) so we never really quite cleared that story until a little later. (1:44) During the courting period, Bobby was always the gentleman.
(1:48) He would pick me up, drop me off, pick me up, drop me off. (1:51) So it’s like a year and a half probably before we acclimated our relationship. (1:55) He’s the perfect man.
He’s got it all. (1:58) Tell me, he cooks too. (1:59) Yes, he does.
(2:00) Oh, yeah. (2:01) He’s got it all. (2:02) For 22 years, Bobby did all the cooking.
(2:05) Yeah, I love to cook. I really was great at barbecues. (2:07) Does he put the rubbish out too, Bridget, the trash? (2:10) Yes, yes, he did.
(2:11) But not everything. (2:12) Now we have the back house, so I kind of have my stature. (2:15) He’s finally allowed a bit of rest.
(2:18) Yeah. (2:19) Yeah. (2:19) Bobby, so it was 2010 when you married Bridget.
(2:22) In the 90s, you came back as a singer again because you joined (2:25) Peter Noone and Davey Jones with the Teen Idol tour. (2:29) Why did you decide to get involved with that? (2:30) Well, that was my old manager at that particular point said (2:34) this could be a very lucrative deal. (2:37) And so Davey agreed and Peter agreed and I agreed.
(2:40) The next thing I know, we’re on stage and thousands of people screaming, (2:44) you know, just like the old days. (2:47) And we had a wonderful time. (2:49) I’d imagine it would be all the girls that had loved you as teenagers.
(2:53) Were they also bringing their own children, grandchildren with them? (2:57) Yes, absolutely. (2:58) But they didn’t act like adults. (2:59) They acted like kids again.
(3:01) I remember Bobby telling me they got older. (3:03) Their underwear also became bigger. (3:06) They used to buy their underwear on stage when they were younger.
(3:09) So their underwear got bigger too. (3:12) He stopped touring when 9-11 hit. (3:16) You keep yourself so well these days, Bobby.
(3:18) One of your fans wrote to me and asked me to ask you if Julie loved you too. (3:25) If Julie loves me, yes. (3:27) Will she still be there? (3:29) That was my closing song.
(3:30) And every time I get to that line, will you still be there? (3:34) There was this big uproar about, yes. (3:37) Absolutely amazing. (3:38) Bobby sang the song on his recording studio and changed it to Julie to my name.
(3:44) That was very special. (3:45) You’re lucky. (3:46) Was Julie a real person? (3:48) Julie? (3:49) Tom Baylor, I think, is his name.
(3:50) He’s the one that wrote it. (3:52) So I think he had a Julie in mind. (3:54) But, you know, after a while, I had more Julies than I’d ever wanted to have.
(4:15) I’m freezing. (4:17) I’m burning. (4:18) I’m crying all through the night.
(4:23) Oh, Julie, Julie, Julie, do you love me? (4:30) Julie, Julie, Julie, do you care? (4:36) Julie, Julie, Julie, do you love me? (4:42) Oh, Julie, Julie, Julie, do you care? (4:48) Julie, Julie, are you thinking of me? (4:53) In concert, I’d say, OK, do we have any Julies in the audience? (4:57) And then, you know, a lot of hands would go up. (4:58) And I’d say, sir, I don’t believe you for one second. (5:02) It was a wonderful song.
(5:03) It sold a lot. (5:05) And after 9-11, that’s when we started opening up our foundation. (5:08) And we opened up an orphanage and a youth center in Ghana, Africa.
(5:14) Yeah. (5:15) So you and Bobby had that in common, that love of children and wanting to help children (5:19) that had come from both your childhoods. (5:23) That’s right.
(5:23) And that wasn’t how we connected, but that was one of the things that connected us (5:27) and kept us going and making us go into the foundation so that we could help kids out there. (5:34) It’s still going strong. (5:35) We also serve 300 meals a day to people in our communities.
(5:40) And hopefully, one day, when we ever let go of our musical knowledge, (5:43) we will turn into like a soup kitchen, just help poverty and feeding people right now. (5:48) We have 45 students in there that have got everything they could possibly think of. (5:52) Wow.
(5:52) What an amazing legacy to leave. (5:55) And people can donate towards this foundation, can’t they? (5:58) Yes, they can. (5:58) We do have a website.
(6:00) It’s just really a love interest. (6:03) It’s a labor of love. (6:03) Would you say that this foundation is one of the things that you’re most proud of in your life? (6:08) We have a lot of opportunities.
(6:10) It’s just I don’t brag about it. (6:11) I don’t publicize it. (6:13) I just love helping children, period.
(6:15) Bridget’s got a very large heart, and that’s one of the things that attracted me to her. (6:20) Yeah. (6:20) So you actually feed people in your local community too? (6:24) I like helping everybody with children.
(6:26) Can you just tell us the website address? (6:28) It’s bbscffoundation.org. (6:31) It’s actually short for Bridget and Barney Sherman Children’s Funders. (7:02) I think I hear the drums. (7:08) Boom, boom, boom, boom.
(7:10) Boom, boom, boom. (7:13) Your time’s at the tailgate. (7:18) Barney and Bridget, you actually do some songs together, don’t you? (7:22) We did a couple of things and all that, yeah.
(7:24) It’s probably the part of me just by myself that I start taking singing lessons because (7:28) I couldn’t sing when I watched these reruns on Shindig because I didn’t get to see that. (7:32) We didn’t have a TV set back then, so basically I’m singing along where it hurts me. (7:38) So eventually, Bobby heard me singing, goes, you know what? (7:40) You sing that so well.
(7:41) Let’s sing it together. (7:42) So we did it. (7:43) We sang it on Shindig.
(7:44) I think it went to the number two spot in my credit line. (7:47) Yeah, it hit very high on the charts, on the 100. (7:51) It was a very successful song, definitely.
(7:55) I never thought that I could try the way I’m trying now. (8:07) I never thought my heart would shy the way it’s trying now. (8:18) But ever since you left, my thoughts have been so blue.
(8:29) I’ll never smile again unless I smile with you. (8:38) What’s it like for you singing with your wife, Bobby? (8:41) I try to bring the best out of her and if she’s not doing it right, I say, let’s do it again. (8:45) Bridget, how do you take his coaching? (8:47) At first, you know, I was irritated by it, but then I just realized he’s trying to help me improve it.
(8:52) It did help me eventually when I started taking singing lessons. (8:56) Of course, the singing lessons, they teach you opera. (8:58) And if you can hit those notes, you can hit anything you can.
(9:01) So that really helped me once I started taking singing lessons. (9:05) He really hasn’t sung any duets professionally other than me. (9:09) So that was very nice.
(9:11) Really? (9:11) In your whole career, no duets? (9:13) Not really, other than being on Sunday and stuff like that. (9:16) Bobby, is there anybody that you wanted to do a duet with or you were always happy singing by yourself? (9:21) Well, not really. (9:23) Like when I did The Partridge Family, David and I did something and we enjoyed that.
(9:28) Stephanie. (9:29) Oh, that’s Stephanie, yeah. Okay.
(9:34) Stephanie, whose eyes are blue. (9:38) What would life be like with you? (9:42) I’ve just been wondering and I’d sure like to see (9:47) If you’ve been thinking the same about me (9:53) And I’m doing all I can do (9:59) Oh, but growing, that’s up to you (10:09) Stephanie, your eyes are free (10:13) You can see things as they appear to be (10:20) I don’t have to tell you how much I really care (10:25) You and I both know about the love that we share (10:31) And I’m doing all I can do (10:36) Oh, but growing, and that’s up to you (10:55) Nick, Sol, and I did Here Come the Brides, David and I did a couple of things in my studio (11:00) and we got along great. (11:02) Your life sounds like it’s been awesome so far.
(11:05) What do you do with your time today? (11:07) I know that you cook. (11:08) I know that you put the, oh no, you don’t put the trash out anymore. (11:11) I know that you’re still recording with Brigitte.
(11:14) How else do you spend your time, Bobby? (11:16) Not really, watching television and (11:18) I was also learning too that all the stuff he didn’t get to do when he was younger (11:22) Going back to, he missed a lot of the TV shows he never got a chance to watch. (11:26) Yeah, it’s true. (11:27) It sounds like you were so busy during your heyday (11:30) that now you’ve got a bit more time to put your feet up and catch up with what you missed.
(11:34) Yeah, I think basically I take the time to relax and put my feet up. (11:40) I’m finding other things to get involved in. (11:41) I’m taking my time.
(11:43) That’s, I guess, what I can say, Sandy. (11:44) I’m just taking it slow. (11:46) I’m still enjoying the crossfit process too.
(11:48) Nice. (11:50) And I’d imagine that Brigitte keeps you eating healthily and active physically. (11:56) I’m trying to get Bobby a little more motivated by, you know, being more active.
(11:59) I don’t push him, but I’m trying to because I’d want him to be around with me a long time. (12:04) Yeah, why wouldn’t you? (12:05) Perfect man you have there. (12:07) Bobby, does it surprise you that so many of us have actually kept your records and souvenirs 50-something years later? (12:13) Oh, absolutely.
(12:15) You know, well, they’re collectors, so they might be worth something. (12:19) eBay, here we come. (12:21) I’m very flattered by it.
(12:22) In fact, a couple of people come up with, you know, some of the 16 magazines and stuff like that. (12:27) So where did you get that? (12:29) I saved it. (12:31) It’s neat that they still admire the good old days, so to speak.
(12:35) Yeah. (12:36) If you look back on your life, Bobby Sherman, would you do it all the same way or is there something that you’d change? (12:42) I don’t think so. (12:43) You know, it’s pretty hard to say, okay, now let me stop and now back up and change this or change that, other than my voice.
(12:51) I don’t think so. (12:53) It’s all fallen into place and I’m very happy. (12:55) As we go through life, we all make mistakes and wish this had been a little different than that.
(13:01) But at the same time, it’s kind of too late to start changing horses. (13:05) So I’m fine. (13:06) If you do look back on your life now, is there one most fond memory apart from the day that you met your wife? (13:13) We got married twice.
(13:14) I tell my really beautiful Cinderella wedding was a Cinderella coach with horses. (13:19) So 2018, you redid your vows completely and had a whole new wedding. (13:23) Bridget, has anybody wanted to make a movie out of your life? (13:26) I’ve been asked that before.
(13:28) I think you’re right. (13:29) I think it would be… (13:30) Thank you. (13:30) I’m not quite ready to show that.
(13:32) There’s going to be a time where I’m ready to show everything to help all the kids in the world what I went through. (13:37) Bobby Sherman, do you have a message for your listeners? (13:40) What would you say to them? (13:41) Oh, just enjoy life, be respectful of others and trust in the Lord. (13:46) Again, that’s all I can tell you.
(13:47) Yeah. (13:48) You’ve got to live every day, don’t you, as though it could be your last and enjoy it and put all those silly little arguments behind you because nothing’s important. (13:56) No, absolutely.
(13:58) And I always used to say that the minute you’re born, you begin to die. (14:02) What? (14:03) But you know what? (14:04) It’s true. (14:05) So it’s one of those things, just live it the fullest you can and the most righteous way you can.
(14:10) Yeah. (14:11) It’s funny how we understand so much more as we get older, isn’t it? (14:14) Oh, yeah. (14:15) Without a doubt.
(14:16) Unfortunately, youth is wasted on the young, isn’t it? (14:19) Yeah. (14:20) Bridget, you haven’t got that old yet. (14:22) You’re not qualified, I don’t think, to answer.
(14:25) Thank you. (14:26) Yeah. (14:27) On top of the other day, people didn’t realize I was 65, but I do work hard at it.
(14:32) It’s not easy. (14:33) Thank you both so very, very much for your time. (14:36) Bridget and Bobby Sherman, an absolute delight chatting with you.
(14:40) Thank you very much. (14:41) And you be safe through these troubled times. (14:45) And God bless you.
(14:46) And to you and yours. (14:48) The wonderful Bobby Sherman there, joined by his wife, Bridget, (14:51) who must count herself as one of the luckiest women on the planet. (14:56) If you’d like to donate to the children’s foundation the couple run, (14:59) the website address again is bbscfoundation.org. (15:04) I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
(15:06) I was so happy to hear how well Bobby is doing. (15:09) He’s recently celebrated his 80th birthday, (15:12) and he seems so happy with his life that’s given him the love of a wife, (15:16) two sons, and six grandchildren. (15:19) I hope you’ll join me next week as we go back to our regular format, (15:24) delving deep into their lives, their stories, and their music.
(15:28) Do you have someone you’d like me to interview? (15:31) Drop me a line if you do. (15:32) I promise I’ll do my very best to make it happen for you. (15:35) Have a fun week, won’t you, until we meet again.
(15:38) Bye now. (15:39) This is a beautiful day. (15:43) You’ve been listening to A Breath of Fresh Air with Sandy Kaye.
(15:47) Beautiful day. (15:49) Oh, baby, any day that you’re gone away, (15:53) it’s a beautiful day.