Marilyn Maye: Dreams, Work, and Giving It All You’ve Got

In this lively conversation with Julian Schlossberg, Maye recalls her piano-playing mother, her friendship with Ella Fitzgerald, and the chance encounters with Steve Allen and Ed McMahon that helped change her career. At seven, Marilyn Maye won a radio contest and got her own show—a remarkably early start to a career that would include 76 appearances on Johnny Carson’s show and a Carnegie Hall concert with an 83-piece orchestra. She also shares her approach to performing: make every lyric a story, and remember that “the audience is the star.” Along the way, she reflects on Broadway roles, teaching young singers, and the people and songs she still holds close.