Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American entertainer.

He was born in New York City.

Military

When he served in the United States Navy from 1920 to 1924, he was assigned to radio training and learned to become a radio operator, serving in that capacity on naval destroyers. Additional training in radio came in his service in the United States Coast Guard from 1927 to 1930.

Civilian life before joining CBS

He began his civilian life as a radio announcer for Baltimore station WFBR in 1930 and moved the short distance to Washington, D.C. to become a staff announcer for NBC later that year. He remained there until 1934. In addition to announcing, Godfrey sang and played the ukulele.

In 1934 he became a freelance entertainer until 1945, when he joined CBS Radio.

Later years

In 1945 he began hosting Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a program on which rising young performers were showcased, on CBS Radio. In 1948 the program began to be simultaneously broadcast on radio and television, lasting until 1958. This program presented to the public many future stars, including Pat Boone, The Chordettes, Patsy Cline, Julius La Rosa , The McGuire Sisters, and even the opera singer, Marilyn Horne.

In 1949 he added a daily program on television, Arthur Godfrey and his Friends, lasting until 1959. This was replaced by the radio program, Arthur Godfrey Time in 1960, lasting until 1972.

He made three movies: Four For Texas (1963), The Glass Bottom Boat (1966), and Where Angels Go...Trouble Follows (1968).

In 1988 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.

He died in the same city where he was born, New York City.

External links

Arthur Godfrey article