Reminiscing Ronstadt

[the Scribe]

cont'd from the old forum: ronstadt-linda.com/v-web/bulletin/velco/viewtopic.php?t=7675&highlight=reminiscing
(Since this link no longer works I am not sure I can remember all the stuff posted in this thread from the old forum but I will try to post things as I find them. It will be personal stories and Ronstadt inspirations or anything anyone wishes to add along those lines is ok.)



Gettin Down with Jerry Brown



TC Guest Blog
Ernie McCray: Reflections From an Evening with my Home Girl
by tcguestblogger on Jan. 31, 2011, under Uncategorized
By Ernie McCray

[Editor's note: Ernie McCray grew up in Tucson and played basketball for the University of Arizona from 1958 to 1960. He is a contributor at TucsonCitizen.com, and you can find more of his musings at a blog site from the Ocean Beach community in San Diego.]

I don’t know if we’ve ever been able, in our society, to truly talk and listen to each other but, at this point in time, we seem to be at an all time low at doing so. I remember when I first really began to notice how divided we are in our social intercourse.

It was just a few years ago and l was in the mellowest of moods, in a groove, just kicking back with my wife and our kids, out at Humphrey’s by the Bay, a perfect place to be on such a balmy San Diego eve as that night was, listening to an old soul mate of mine (as we’re both progressive thinking people from Tucson), Linda Ronstadt, just pretty-fy, if you will, the evening air with music and song. I mean she was on.

Linda kicked off the set with “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” giving it just the right attitude, flashing me back to my childhood in the 40’s growing up in the Old Pueblo, escaping the summer sun with a glass of cold Kool Aid (red), listening to the Nat King Cole Trio sing that old jazz standard via my victrola – in the same hip upbeat way.

Then she slowly, with inimitable incredible ease, unleashed the ranges of her magnificent voice, those shattering highs and soothing lows and all the funky nuances of tone in between. Oh, her singing weakens my knees and I just gave into her artistry, moving my body with the beat, patting my thighs and tapping my feet, resisting singing out loud since everybody had paid mucho bucks for their seat. I was a man, in those moments, at peace with the world.

And then the most unsettling thing happened. Linda uttered a bit of praise for Michael Moore and in the next moment, without a hint of warning, before I could say “Amen,” a man yells at Linda like she was an umpire who had made a call that cost his team the World Series and him his life’s savings. This heckling dude literally startled me out of my chair. He told her: “Stop the political [B.S.] and just sing!” Then he and other jeering people fled the premises looking like mimes as “Desperado” drowned the sounds of their hideous hateful display. I thought: Has narrow mindedness overtaken the USA?

Now as for me, I showed up expecting Linda to make a comment about something going on in society. She always has. And she does it from the heart, softly, openly, thoughtfully, with love, in but a few breaths. And I know from experience that she was nurtured in love as she and I bonded before she was born, back when my grandfather would say something to me like: “Boy, take this money and go to Ronstadt’s Hardware and get me a bucket o’ six penny nails.” And I’d hustle because I knew an ice cream cone or some kind of goody was in the deal and that in my visit to the Ronstadt store I would never be subjected to that “What can I getcha, eightball?” kind of attitude that little black boys like me often had to put up with back then.

Ronstadt’s Hardware was so refreshing, one of the few places where I could fully relax, untaxed by my color, one of the places where I saw that good people come in all colors. And before I knew who Linda Ronstadt was she had already, on her family’s coattails, entered my heart and soul and, over the years, as a follower of her music and views, I’ve come to love and appreciate her unconditionally. So when they yelled at her that evening they might as well have been yelling at me because I, like Linda, want a better world, a world where in passing a singing icon could feel free to say, within a very short and snappy phrase: “This evening I’d just like to acknowledge and thank Michael Moore, a great American Patriot, for telling it like it is, showing us the truth” without people gasping for air and hyperventilating.

First of all I don’t understand the kind of hatred Michael has generated in some circles. I mean he might not be somebody’s cup of tea but he never fails to issue some news we can use. It amazes me that people who live in what we like to refer to as the Land of the Free, can so easily abuse such a liberty by, for lack of better words, just “hating on each other” – like we’re an episode on Jersey Shores or NBA Wives.

And with Linda that night it was like a mob suddenly decided that she wasn’t to have thoughts and views, ignoring that she had simply in an eloquent and soulful manner, demonstrated what patriotism is all about: Speaking out. She merely thought out loud and gave us a little tidbit to think about.

It was a shame but Linda got right back into her game with “Blue Bayou” and with hateful hearts having shown themselves the door, love came back into the venue like a gift descending upon us from beyond. And we created in those moments a better world.

All, for a while, was forgotten. Love ruled.

Linda and those of us who stayed were committed to just having a good time with some great music. What if in today’s world we could capture and express in our hearts and souls such a spirit of sharing and caring, much like the degree of concern that Tucsonans have nurtured each other with in order to get through the sadness that has weighed down their recent days. Wouldn’t it be something truly glorious if our society could muster that kind of love for each other as a way of life? Think of how much better we could listen to each other and how more efficient we’d become at solving our social and political problems. Think of the legacy we’d be leaving our children.

Why, we’d be as pretty to watch as Linda’s songs are to listen to.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 8:43 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

[erik]

From this link:
jackriley.independentminds.livejournal.com/20466.html

...alt-country/Americana "young'un Caitlin Rose is asked about her big musical influences:



"Bob Dylan and Linda Ronstadt are two incredibly talented artists with vast musical knowledge and versatile tastes made apparent by the constant shift in styles throughout their careers. Linda made me want to sing all the best songs the best I could and Dylan's words split my wig-dome and make me want to wear sunglasses all the time. I've honestly learned more about music through them than any other artists. With Dylan you're starting off on folk, unwittingly learning and absorbing decades or even entire centuries of songs, then two years later you're hearing some of the greatest, most unique rock records of all time, not thinking twice about how he got to there. His records defined themselves and I feel like he didn't need to make excuses for the changes. With Linda you get to hear her voice mature from that barefoot-Arizona-to-California-late-to-the-party hippie girl to one of the finest and most well trained voices of modern time (and hands down one of the best rock voices ever). I recently got into Amalia Rodrigues, a female Fado artist from Portugal, whose career is strikingly similar. Poets from all over would write pieces for her to sing, much like Linda becoming the song interpreter for many unknown singer songwriters in the mid-to-late '70s."

Who says young people don't respect their elders anymore? ;D

[the Scribe]

Studio secrets shared
• By GORDIE LITTLE, Small Talk
Press-Republican
• Sep 1, 2013

Gordie Little was for many years a well-known radio personality in the North Country and now hosts the "Our Little Corner" television program for Home Town Cable. Anyone with comments for him may send them to the newspaper or e-mail him at [e-mail].

Music has magic to soothe the savage breast. I wasn’t the first to say that, but for me and many others, it’s as right as rain.

Having listened to and performed music in various venues before moving to Plattsburgh in 1961, it became part and parcel of my body and soul. And being on the radio until 1997, I got to share live and recorded music with many of you and your friends.

When I worked at both Plattsburgh radio stations, some bands came right to the studios to do their thing. In those days, a few listeners still believed all music was live. I suppose that harks back to the time when you could flick on your Philco radio and listen to the Glen Miller Band live from the Glen Island Casino. For many years, I had to make announcements to let my audience know that “Portions of this program have been prerecorded.” Can you believe it?

Some of the musicians whom I was privileged to introduce are still alive, but most have put away their fiddles, mandolins, guitars and juice harps. I cherish those days when there was a musical group in every neighborhood bar and club.

It was my great pleasure to stand or sit before a microphone and invite radio listeners to hear live rock ‘n’ roll bands at a wonderful place called Rollerland in Plattsburgh. I’m certain we broke all fire codes when we jam-packed the place for the likes of Tommy Roe, Brian Highland and Linda Scott, along with all the local and regional groups. I’ve managed to remain in touch with many of them over the past 50 years or so.

I was delighted when various unknown artists or their representatives would come to the radio station and ask my opinion of their music. I was fortunate to have been the first DJ on the planet to spin records by some who went on to fame and fortune. Tom and Harry Chapin are perfect examples. I cherish letters from several others who remembered my modest contribution and thanked me for helping. Many fine musicians came to us via the U.S. Air Force and the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

One fine day, a young airman stopped by the radio station carrying a large reel-to-reel tape. We chatted, and he said it came from a cousin or friend on the West Coast. It was a “studio master” recording of a female singer. He wanted my opinion. He must have thought I had lost my mind when I listened and was wild about the singer and the song.

I broke several rules and laws by offering to play it on my show then and there. The telephone lines lit up like a Christmas tree, and the audience raved. I don’t recall the title, but I played it over and over, and in retrospect, I wish I had made an illegal copy for my personal collection. Why? That female singer, barely out of her teens, later released an album with the Stone Poneys and went ballistic as a solo artist a couple years later.

Her given name is Linda Susan Marie Ronstadt. She has no idea who I am, and that’s fine. But I can never forget that day and that early recording. I mention it now, because I recently learned that Linda is suffering from Parkinson’s disease and tragically cannot sing a note. Almost a dozen Grammy Awards and millions of albums, and this amazing woman can no longer do what she did for me on that tape recording from the ‘60s.

We say prayers for her and will continue to enjoy listening to our treasured records with such giant hits as “You’re No Good” and “When Will I Be Loved.”

I wish I could recall the name of the airman who handed me that marvelous treasure, but, if he’s out there somewhere, I offer him my undying thanks. And, to Linda Ronstadt, who has pleased me with her renditions of everything from country to Broadway hits: “Thanks for the memories, and keep singing in your heart.”

Have a great day and please, drive carefully.

Gordie Little was for many years a well-known radio personality in the North Country and now hosts the “Our Little Corner” television program for Home Town Cable. Anyone with comments for him may send them to the newspaper or email him at [e-mail].

[the Scribe]

Linda Ronstadt sings My Boyfriend's Back to Jerry Brown

[the Scribe]

Andrew Gold discusses the making of "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt

[the Scribe]

Jim Carrey talks about his relationship with Linda Ronstadt on 99.3 The Fox

[the Scribe]

Pat Conroy and Linda Ronstadt

by Sam Irwin • May 1, 2016 • Comments Offon Pat Conroy and Linda Ronstadt

Coach J. C. “Dutch” Reinhardt

I truly loved Steve Oney’s tribute to novelist Pat Conroy, Old Men and Young Bucks. I read the piece in The Bitter Southerner. Conroy, the author of Conrack, The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, died March 4, 2016.

The story evoked a memory of my mission to organize an intramural basketball team of English and history majors at the old University of Southwestern Louisiana. The games were to be played in the Earl K. Long Men’s Gym, the domain of Coach Dutch Reinhardt. Coach Reinhardt, a former Olympic coach, and his P.E. basketball class taught me to strive for Olympian ideals.

I enrolled our team, Linda Ronstadt, in the top classification. The unlikely name of Linda Ronstadt was my choice of mascot name because I was in love with her and dreamed of being a back-up singer in her band. I probably should have put us in the lower league but I was young, cocky and overconfident in my 5’7” athletic prowess and the bulk of Randy Holmes, currently a professor at Virginia State University. Alas, Professor Holmes sprained his ankle in a practice game the day before league play started.

Our lineup included me, Holmes, the Rees brothers, the tallish Barry Epperson and Tom McClean, whose dashing blonde good looks did not equate to superior caging skills. We lost every game, including one where we did not score a single point in the first half. We were hampered by the Rees brothers. Steve, the more athletic, never saw a shot he didn’t like. His bro, irreverent John, baffled us by his unorthodox style of play which consisted of him handing the ball off to the opponents. Obviously, John was practicing the Hotzenplot maneuver. Though he was benched, our play did not improve. Idiosyncratic play aside, we were hopelessly outmatched in every game.

Finally the last game of the season arrived. The winless Linda Ronstadt faced the unbeaten Warriors, Chiefs or Spartans or some other tribe. We were optimistic… the Holmesian ankle was healed and vision of a blaring newspaper headline – Literati upset A-types – was typeset upon my internal newspaper. Sadly, the final edition was Lit/history stiffs kicked out of gym. We played well in the finale, possibly the best we played all season, but we landed in the L column. We retired to the Red Dog Saloon, the haven of poets, playwrights, musicians and future alcoholics, and drank to futility.

I have failed plenty in my life. I tried to run a honky-tonk and became a drunk. I operated Paradise Records, the coolest record store in Baton Rouge for 15 years, and went broke. As a writer, I have failed plenty…my rejection letters can attest to that. Despite these setbacks, I have accomplished plenty and had my share of personal victories. I count my daily quest for sobriety among the wins.

As I approach the age of Pat Conroy, the experience of Linda Ronstadt did not teach me to curse the night or that it was better to love and lose than never to love – I was already doing that – LR help me to understand our desire to control outcomes and our ultimate failure to achieve control is constant and unrelenting. The most important lesson is that it’s ok to strive and fail. But it’s never ok to fail and not strive again.

lanote.org/2016/05/pat-conroy-and-linda-ronstadt/

[the Scribe]

Linda Ronstadt tribute? It’s so easy.

From left: Susan Cattaneo, Jenee Halstead, and Jen D’Angora rehearsing for the Linda Ronstadt tribute show at Johnny D’s.

Justin Saglio For The Boston Globe

By James Sullivan Globe Correspondent January 08, 2015

When Linda Ronstadt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last April, Susan Cattaneo reacted like a lot of the singer’s fans: “Well, of course! Isn’t she in it already?”

In truth, the belated honor was overshadowed by the bigger bluster of bands such as Nirvana and Kiss. But Ronstadt, once known as the “Queen of Rock,” had 21 Top 40 hits in her heyday, from the late ’60s to the early ’80s. Though she’d long since renounced rock ’n’ roll in favor of popular standards and Mexican canciones, there was a time when Ronstadt was the biggest female star, by a wide margin, in a male-dominated field.

Cattaneo, a songwriting professor at Berklee College of Music, is one of the musicians set to take part in a tribute to Ronstadt at Johnny D’s on Thursday, the latest installment in Patrick Coman’s showcase series For the Sake of the Song. It was Ronstadt, she says, who inspired her to pursue her profession.

“I was raised on musical theater, old standards,” says Cattaneo. “I’m an alto, and there never seemed to be a part for me. Then I discovered Linda, and I went, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want to do!’

www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/01/08/linda-ronstadt-tribute-easy-for-local-rockers/iDWJ8qip56FWNOhp6Oc7MM/story.html