Meet Darwin Lamm — A Lifetime of Music, Memories, and Elvis

 

Back in the 1950s, a young Darwin Lamm fell in love with the sounds of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, and the rest of the early rock ’n roll legends. But everything changed in 1959 when Darwin saw Buddy Holly perform on a local Portland TV station. That moment lit a spark. “I can do that!” he said — and the very next day, he headed to a little music store in Vancouver, Washington, and bought a Fender guitar just like Buddy’s.

 

At just 18, Darwin began writing songs, playing guitar, and singing his heart out. Before long, he formed a band called *Darwin and the Cupids.* Even though their label was small and local, Darwin scored two #1 hit songs in the Pacific Northwest. That success gave him the push he needed to move to Los Angeles, where he continued writing, performing, and producing music for Dore and Dot Records.

 

By the mid-1960s, Darwin had landed a spot at one of the top talent agencies — CMA (which later became ICM). As a talent agent, he worked on some of the most iconic variety shows of the era, including *Laugh-In*, *The Dean Martin Show*, *The Andy Williams Show*, *The Carol Burnett Show*, and *The Tonight Show.* It was a front-row seat to the golden age of TV entertainment.

 

In the early ’70s, Darwin launched his own radio syndication company with none other than Dick Clark. Their first show — featuring the fiery personality of Bill Ballance — stirred up a bit of controversy, and when FCC regulations forced changes, Dick Clark moved on, leaving Darwin to forge ahead solo.

 

And forge ahead he did.

 

In 1973, Darwin created *Creative Radio Shows*, producing music specials that highlighted legends like the Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, the Beatles, and many more. His big break came with a four-hour Buddy Holly special, sponsored by Columbia Pictures to promote the film *The Buddy Holly Story*. That show aired on over 200 stations and officially put Darwin on the map.

 

Soon, Creative Radio Shows was broadcasting regularly on nearly 200 stations. One of its biggest hits was a special on Willie Nelson’s *Fourth of July Picnic*, which reached 320 markets nationwide.

 

When Elvis Presley passed away in 1977, Darwin created a three-hour tribute special called *Elvis Remembered*. That show began a new chapter for Darwin — one where Elvis became the centerpiece. Over the next 25 years, Darwin produced more Elvis specials than any other radio syndicator, sharing the King’s legacy with fans around the world.

 

That passion led Darwin to launch *Elvis International Forum Magazine* in 1988 — a way to answer fans’ questions and keep Elvis’s spirit alive. Darwin had seen Elvis perform many times, but he always regretted one thing: never meeting him in person. In 1971, Darwin had the chance to meet Elvis backstage in Vegas, but passed it up because coordinating with friends became too complicated. “I thought it would happen another time,” he says. “It didn’t.”

 

Still, Darwin did more than most to keep Elvis’s memory alive. For 22 years, he published *Elvis…The Magazine*, a quarterly publication dedicated to Elvis’s music, image, and legacy. It became the first Elvis magazine officially licensed by Graceland. The final issue came out in Winter 2013, marking the end of an incredible era — but not the end of Darwin’s devotion.

 

Thanks to Darwin’s lifelong dedication to keep 'memory of Elvis' alive, countless fans around the world have been able to reconnect with the music, stories, and magic of the King.

 

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