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Post by PoP80 on May 3, 2015 8:37:56 GMT -5
I would never interrupt people during dinner or anything like that. I run into famous people here in NY in grocery stores and other local places and just talk to them about the weather or other normal conversation. It seems that the "stranger anxiety" Linda had as a child manifested itself into being wary of people she doesn't know, especially in the vulnerable position of being a celebrity. I'm sure it can be annoying to be recognized all the time, and the price of fame certainly has its pros and cons.
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Post by sliderocker on May 3, 2015 15:37:36 GMT -5
I've read pretty much every article or book ever written about Linda Ronstadt, and when it comes to meeting fans, she is obviously not a fan lol. I recall reading the RS paragraph mentioned above, and another during her New York opera days where she stated her frustration at being interrupted by fans at restaurants and other places, calling it rude--which it is... I recall an interview with a fellow singer from those days, describing her as stand-offish to everyone. But she did allow that when you're that famous, everyone wants a piece of you. And that has to be hard. I feel Linda is justified in telling it like it is. Imposing on a celebrity in a restaurant to meet them and to ask them for an autograph is a very rude thing to do, but most annoyed celebrities are used to those interruptions and obliging the interrupting fan just long enough to get them out of their hair. The singer who described Linda as stand-offish to everyone because everyone wanting a piece of her would've made it very hard for her to meet anyone and make a new friend, or even find someone she could've been interested in romantically. Still, I thought I remember reading somewhere that Linda had met some celebrities before she herself was one, and have to wonder if she had any negative experiences in her own encounters that made her look at it from a celebrity's point of view?
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Post by sliderocker on May 3, 2015 16:06:05 GMT -5
I would never interrupt people during dinner or anything like that. I run into famous people here in NY in grocery stores and other local places and just talk to them about the weather or other normal conversation. It seems that the "stranger anxiety" Linda had as a child manifested itself into being wary of people she doesn't know, especially in the vulnerable position of being a celebrity. I'm sure it can be annoying to be recognized all the time, and the price of fame certainly has its pros and cons. Hadn't heard about Linda having any "stranger anxiety" as a child before this - news to me. Was that in her book? (And if it was, why do I not remember it?) But, thinking about such a possibility, if something bad almost did (or did) happen in Linda's childhood that scarred her into - as you noted - being wary of people she didn't know, what was that event? Was it something that maybe could've had a tragic outcome for her pr something that got her into trouble with her parents? I'm also mindful of the account in Linda's book of the production executive with "The Johnny Cash Show" showing up in Linda's hotel and stripping himself naked and expecting Linda to have sex with him. That had to frighten her and make her even more nervous of people she didn't know and doesn't know. It's still unforgivable that Linda's manager did nothing about it, not even to the point of passing it along to Johnny Cash himself. I think Cash would've fired the guy on the spot, after first beating him to a pulp. Most celebrities interact with their fans in some way. Elvis would go down to the gates of his Graceland home and talk to his fans and sign autographs, although he always stayed behind the gates for his his own safety. John Lennon walked the streets of New York without security and signed autographs for any fan he met who would stop him and ask him for an autograph. What happened to him demonstrated the need to have security guards around and it also points to why some celebrities have to be on guard when meeting a fan. They have no way of knowing who is a threat and who is not.
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Post by moe on May 3, 2015 18:57:37 GMT -5
I would never interrupt people during dinner or anything like that. I run into famous people here in NY in grocery stores and other local places and just talk to them about the weather or other normal conversation. It seems that the "stranger anxiety" Linda had as a child manifested itself into being wary of people she doesn't know, especially in the vulnerable position of being a celebrity. I'm sure it can be annoying to be recognized all the time, and the price of fame certainly has its pros and cons. Hadn't heard about Linda having any "stranger anxiety" as a child before this - news to me. Was that in her book? (And if it was, why do I not remember it?) But, thinking about such a possibility, if something bad almost did (or did) happen in Linda's childhood that scarred her into - as you noted - being wary of people she didn't know, what was that event? Was it something that maybe could've had a tragic outcome for her pr something that got her into trouble with her parents? I'm also mindful of the account in Linda's book of the production executive with "The Johnny Cash Show" showing up in Linda's hotel and stripping himself naked and expecting Linda to have sex with him. That had to frighten her and make her even more nervous of people she didn't know and doesn't know. It's still unforgivable that Linda's manager did nothing about it, not even to the point of passing it along to Johnny Cash himself. I think Cash would've fired the guy on the spot, after first beating him to a pulp. Most celebrities interact with their fans in some way. Elvis would go down to the gates of his Graceland home and talk to his fans and sign autographs, although he always stayed behind the gates for his his own safety. John Lennon walked the streets of New York without security and signed autographs for any fan he met who would stop him and ask him for an autograph. What happened to him demonstrated the need to have security guards around and it also points to why some celebrities have to be on guard when meeting a fan. They have no way of knowing who is a threat and who is not. In the very first part of her book Linda mentions Catholic school as being a traumatic experience. Something that she says put her off religion forever.
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Post by moe on May 3, 2015 19:22:02 GMT -5
I was thinking about Linda's standoffishness that may or may not exist (for my part I think , under certain circumstances, it does) And I started looking at her as not as a celebrity but a worker with a job. If anyone had physicians for friends you know how aggravating it is to them to have a acquaintance come up and start describing some ache or rash looking for free advice. I think that Linda believes she gets on stage, even now, does her thing, gets paid and that's it. I don't think she has the hubris (right word?) to buy into the celebrity game. She is obviously aware of her status on an intellectual level but I don't think in her gut she gets or understands how people react to her (and not really her but rather her fame) So I guess if I ever met her I would have to have the discipline not to gush or pass out but to act like I was meeting a Plumber or electrician (yeah-good luck with that)
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Post by sliderocker on May 3, 2015 22:04:58 GMT -5
In the very first part of her book Linda mentions Catholic school as being a traumatic experience. Something that she says put her off religion forever. I remember that mention but I don't remember her going much into the specifics as to what happened, only that it affected the class. Based on what I've heard or read on others who went to Catholic schools in the 50s and 60s, I've got a pretty good idea that it was most likely corporal punishment, and that it was far worse than what was doled out in the public schools that used it. Most schools that used corporal punishment didn't allow it to take place where other students could see it but the few former Catholic school students who talked about the practice said it took place in class in front of the other students. And I recall Linda did speak against adults beating kids on the Mike Douglas Show in 1971, but she never said whether it was something that happened to her or something she witnessed. It's quite possible that could've been the traumatic experience that made her extremely wary of people she doesn't know. Still, a lifelong wariness?
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Post by jay15206 on May 5, 2015 19:58:20 GMT -5
In the very first part of her book Linda mentions Catholic school as being a traumatic experience. Something that she says put her off religion forever. I remember that mention but I don't remember her going much into the specifics as to what happened, only that it affected the class. Based on what I've heard or read on others who went to Catholic schools in the 50s and 60s, I've got a pretty good idea that it was most likely corporal punishment, and that it was far worse than what was doled out in the public schools that used it. Most schools that used corporal punishment didn't allow it to take place where other students could see it but the few former Catholic school students who talked about the practice said it took place in class in front of the other students. And I recall Linda did speak against adults beating kids on the Mike Douglas Show in 1971, but she never said whether it was something that happened to her or something she witnessed. It's quite possible that could've been the traumatic experience that made her extremely wary of people she doesn't know. Still, a lifelong wariness? Catholic school in the 1950s and 1960s put me off Christianity forever. It had absolutely nothing to do with corporal punishment -- no one touched me -- but rather institutionalized anti-Semitism.
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Post by markislam on May 6, 2015 2:57:42 GMT -5
Met her several times, the first backstage at Universal Amphitheater in early 90's (92? 93?) when she was touring with Mas Canciones. Rosemary Butler brought me & Debbie Pearl (who sang on Tell Him on Get Closer LP). Memories are fuzzy about what was said but she had just adopted her daughter who was with her. Met her again at Concord Pavilion in the Bay Area when she toured with Feels Like Home; Andrew Gold, who was in her band, had comped me & Michael Koecher (whom I'd befriended at Tower Records on Sunset when he worked there; he & I also attended the Tonight Show taping where she & Robin Quivers squabbled). I wasn't expecting Andrew to comp our tickets and I also wasn't expecting him to provide backstage passes for us. Linda was backstage doing some meet & greet stuff with a radio station, was gracious & lovely. Met her again when Dedicated To The One I Love came out and she did an in-store at a children's bookstore in L.A. called Storyopolis. In February of 1998, Rosemary Butler was in the house band of the Nicolette Larson tributes at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium; I chauffeured Rosemary to the second gig and she gave me a laminate -- Linda arrived during intermission, left as soon as she was done. I asked her if she had anything coming out and she said there was an album coming out (We Ran) "and to be honest with you I can't even remember what songs are on it." Someone brought up Living In The USA's album cover and she joked that "it had been airbrushed so many times it's more like a painting than a photograph." El Nino had drenched Los Angeles, and Linda had arrived wearing a raincoat which she had forgotten to take off as she was about to take the stage. While Graham Nash was introducing her, her manager at the time Ira Koslow was trying to get her attention before she walked out onstage in her raincoat. "Pssst! Linda! Linda!" and she took it off and hurriedly threw it to him.Drove down to Tucson when she did the Mothers Day benefit for Waldorf School -- one of the best shows I've ever seen her do (acoustic, Jon Gilutin on piano and a whole bunch of Tucson kin who joined her) . Was a reception afterward, had a photo taken with her. Met Rob Morse from this forum at this Tucson gig. In May of 2008, I flew out to Hutchinson, Kansas to see her show there, which included a meet and greet afterwards -- met Lance from this forum there as well as a French fan from this forum who'd flown from France to Kansas to hear her & meet her. I kind of recollect that Linda didn't stay for very long at this meet & greet.
But the last time I ran into her was the time that really sticks with me. In July of 2013, I drove up from Los Angeles to San Jose Civic Auditorium with Rique (stylist on Western Wall CD cover & lots of Emmylou albums), stopping in Cambria along the way to pick up songwriter Jude Johnstone (wrote a bunch of Trisha Yearwood tunes, also Bette, Bonnie, Emmylou, Johnny Cash). Emmylou Harris was performing up there with Joan Baez & Jackson Browne. My party watched the show from the wings of the stage. Toward the end of the show, Linda was standing right next to me, dressed in sweatshirt & jeans & holding onto what appeared to be ski poles. I was like, "What's up with the ski poles?" And to my utter astonishment, she goes, "Oh, I have Parkinsons Disease," told me the poles helped her stabilize, particularly on uneven surfaces. I was all, "WHAT??? For how long?" She said she had only recently been diagnosed but she thought she'd started showing symptoms a dozen years before when she noticed changes in her voice, said Parkinsons is difficult to diagnose. I asked her how she was treating it, and she said that a lot of the prescription drugs had hideous side effects. Was really NOT the conversation I was expecting, was utterly dumbstruck. About a month later, the Parkinsons news broke when she did the interview with Alanna Nash for AARP.
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Post by PoP80 on May 6, 2015 7:28:47 GMT -5
It might have been quite a shock to you to hear about the Parkinson's, especially directly from Linda herself! I remember being devastated when I first heard that she could no longer sing and I didn't even know it was from Parkinson's at that time. I just couldn't wrap my mind around this tremendous loss for her, and that there would be no more new albums or live singing appearances. It still really saddens me that she is living with such a hardship, even though she doesn't want people feeling sorry for her. We all have health issues to deal with as we get older, but that is a tough one...
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Post by jay15206 on May 7, 2015 7:59:17 GMT -5
It might have been quite a shock to you to hear about the Parkinson's, especially directly from Linda herself! I remember being devastated when I first heard that she could no longer sing and I didn't even know it was from Parkinson's at that time. I just couldn't wrap my mind around this tremendous loss for her, and that there would be no more new albums or live singing appearances. It still really saddens me that she is living with such a hardship, even though she doesn't want people feeling sorry for her. We all have health issues to deal with as we get older, but that is a tough one... I always wanted to hear Linda sing "The Way You Look Tonight." I realize, however, that as sad as I am that I will never hear that, it has to be so much more devastating for her not to be able to sing anymore.
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MJH
A Number and a Name
Posts: 18
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Post by MJH on May 7, 2015 11:53:47 GMT -5
I met Linda when she spoke at Grace Cathedral in SF. I happened to be sitting in the front row, on the end, when her assistant Janet Stark and daughter Mary sat down next to me. I talked with Janet a bit and gave her my CD booklet of Winter Light to get signed after the talk. Then I picked it up from LR herself after she signed it, this was just before the announcement of Parkinson's and I noticed her hand was wobbling a bit while signing for me. I've seen her several times live over the years and cherish each one of those concerts.
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Post by JasonKlose on May 7, 2015 16:34:27 GMT -5
I have never met Linda in person but I did talk to her on the phone Tuesday afternoon. I'm a freelance writer, and I interviewed Linda for a feature I wrote for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania. The interview was just wonderful! Her assistant called me at 5pm and then put Linda on the line. She is so down-to-earth and so sweet and pleasant to talk to. She was just what I or anyone would expect her to be. I will admit I was nervous in the hours leading up to it. I was at work all day anticipating it. I wanted to say all the right things and not get tongue-tied. I had a lot of questions to ask her and I hoped that I was going to ask the right ones. She's had such an amazing career and has done so many things that I wasn't sure where to start. I told Linda that and she just laughed. She still has that cute giggle.
We talked about a lot of things: her Parkinson's disease of course, how she is dealing with it, the Eagles, "Pirates," Nelson Riddle, her memoir, and a few other things. We also got off topic a few times. She is so easy to talk to.......like an old friend. I was nervous in the beginning but she soon made me feel comfortable and eased my mind. And she is so caring and sweet. I told her that I felt for her and could understand what she's going through, that I have Huntington's disease in my family, and that I had to help my mom take care of my dad for six years. She said she was so sorry to hear that. She is a very empathetic person......so in tune and sensitive to other people's feelings. She genuinely cares about people.......even people she doesn't know.
I'm hoping I'll have a chance to meet her in Wilmington, Delaware next Wednesday. It would be the icing on the cake so to speak. Now that I've interviewed her, it just won't seem complete without meeting her face-to-face. But if she can't do it I'll understand. But she has just meant so much to me and this has been a dream of mine for a long time.
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Post by Dianna on May 7, 2015 17:06:32 GMT -5
that is sooo cool Jason. I remember you talking about interviewing Linda. I'm glad you got to do it How lucky!!!!! I would love to read the interview once available. I'm sure others would too. Congratulations on getting the interview.
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Post by Richard W on May 7, 2015 17:12:26 GMT -5
I have never met Linda in person but I did talk to her on the phone Tuesday afternoon. I'm a freelance writer, and I interviewed Linda for a feature I wrote for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania. The interview was just wonderful! Her assistant called me at 5pm and then put Linda on the line. She is so down-to-earth and so sweet and pleasant to talk to. She was just what I or anyone would expect her to be. I will admit I was nervous in the hours leading up to it. I was at work all day anticipating it. I wanted to say all the right things and not get tongue-tied. I had a lot of questions to ask her and I hoped that I was going to ask the right ones. She's had such an amazing career and has done so many things that I wasn't sure where to start. I told Linda that and she just laughed. She still has that cute giggle. We talked about a lot of things: her Parkinson's disease of course, how she is dealing with it, the Eagles, "Pirates," Nelson Riddle, her memoir, and a few other things. We also got off topic a few times. She is so easy to talk to.......like an old friend. I was nervous in the beginning but she soon made me feel comfortable and eased my mind. And she is so caring and sweet. I told her that I felt for her and could understand what she's going through, that I have Huntington's disease in my family, and that I had to help my mom take care of my dad for six years. She said she was so sorry to hear that. She is a very empathetic person......so in tune and sensitive to other people's feelings. She genuinely cares about people.......even people she doesn't know. I'm hoping I'll have a chance to meet her in Wilmington, Delaware next Wednesday. It would be the icing on the cake so to speak. Now that I've interviewed her, it just won't seem complete without meeting her face-to-face. But if she can't do it I'll understand. But she has just meant so much to me and this has been a dream of mine for a long time. In a word: awesome!
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Post by eddiejinnj on May 7, 2015 21:00:04 GMT -5
Man, how do I get to interview her. It would be cool if somebody from here which you are Jason but am not sure you mentioned this forum. I could be the official interviewer for her discussion forum. hey ya never know. better start organizing my thoughts and questions. wink!!!!! weirder things have happened. eddiejinnj
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Post by Sloan on May 8, 2015 9:19:13 GMT -5
I have never met Linda in person but I did talk to her on the phone Tuesday afternoon. I'm a freelance writer, and I interviewed Linda for a feature I wrote for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania. The interview was just wonderful! Her assistant called me at 5pm and then put Linda on the line. She is so down-to-earth and so sweet and pleasant to talk to. She was just what I or anyone would expect her to be. I will admit I was nervous in the hours leading up to it. I was at work all day anticipating it. I wanted to say all the right things and not get tongue-tied. I had a lot of questions to ask her and I hoped that I was going to ask the right ones. She's had such an amazing career and has done so many things that I wasn't sure where to start. I told Linda that and she just laughed. She still has that cute giggle. We talked about a lot of things: her Parkinson's disease of course, how she is dealing with it, the Eagles, "Pirates," Nelson Riddle, her memoir, and a few other things. We also got off topic a few times. She is so easy to talk to.......like an old friend. I was nervous in the beginning but she soon made me feel comfortable and eased my mind. And she is so caring and sweet. I told her that I felt for her and could understand what she's going through, that I have Huntington's disease in my family, and that I had to help my mom take care of my dad for six years. She said she was so sorry to hear that. She is a very empathetic person......so in tune and sensitive to other people's feelings. She genuinely cares about people.......even people she doesn't know. I'm hoping I'll have a chance to meet her in Wilmington, Delaware next Wednesday. It would be the icing on the cake so to speak. Now that I've interviewed her, it just won't seem complete without meeting her face-to-face. But if she can't do it I'll understand. But she has just meant so much to me and this has been a dream of mine for a long time. What an amazing day that was for you, huh? Fantastic. If this doesn't endear you to this lady more already, I don't know what will. Glad she was everything you thought she would be--and more!
Lucky you! And then to hear that lovely voice too, ah, I am so envious!
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Post by PoP80 on May 8, 2015 15:18:40 GMT -5
Kudos to you, Jason!! It's so wonderful that you had the opportunity to have an intelligent conversation with Linda through your interview. It's probably a little easier to talk to her over the phone rather than face-to-face, but I understand about your jitters. I'm sure I made a fool of myself many times over in my encounters! I'm glad you found her to be so personable and easy to talk to, and hope you get to speak to her in person in Wilmington. I think she would be very receptive since the phone interview went so well.
Please keep us posted--Wow!!!!
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Post by PoP80 on May 8, 2015 15:22:25 GMT -5
That's a very nice (bittersweet) memory for you! I remember that interview on the radio and it must have been a great experience to be there in person. What was her daughter Mary like?
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Post by Guest on May 9, 2015 4:56:59 GMT -5
It was obvious to me she was having physical problems around the time of Hummin' when so many at this forum were complaining about her using a monitor for the lyrics. Her balance was a bit off as well.
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Post by linda on May 10, 2015 8:32:09 GMT -5
That's a very nice (bittersweet) memory for you! I remember that interview on the radio and it must have been a great experience to be there in person. What was her daughter Mary like?
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Post by linda on May 10, 2015 8:35:53 GMT -5
That's a very nice (bittersweet) memory for you! I remember that interview on the radio and it must have been a great experience to be there in person. What was her daughter Mary like? I will jump in about Mary, if I could. She is one of the sweetest , heart of gold people I know. Very talented. Like her Mom , the real deal.
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Post by PoP80 on May 10, 2015 11:39:53 GMT -5
That's great to hear. How do you know Mary?
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Post by linda on May 10, 2015 11:52:27 GMT -5
That's great to hear. How do you know Mary? Mary and I are business partners of sorts. I am featuring her art work in my Antique Shop. I do the matting and framing. She does the artwork.
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Post by PoP80 on May 10, 2015 18:21:02 GMT -5
That's cool! I didn't know you had an antique shop. Sounds like a great collaboration and I'm sure Mary is very talented. Do you have a website?
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Post by linda on May 10, 2015 19:29:28 GMT -5
That's cool! I didn't know you had an antique shop. Sounds like a great collaboration and I'm sure Mary is very talented. Do you have a website? We don't have a website. Our shop is in Henderson Harbor N Y. On Lake Ontario. Ron does shows in Pennsylvania as well. My regular job is being an AV Designer. If you are interested in any of Mary's prints let me know. Regarding the subject of this forum, Linda did a great job raising Mary. ?
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Post by Dalton on May 10, 2015 22:59:07 GMT -5
Man, how do I get to interview her. It would be cool if somebody from here which you are Jason but am not sure you mentioned this forum. I could be the official interviewer for her discussion forum. hey ya never know. better start organizing my thoughts and questions. wink!!!!! weirder things have happened. eddiejinnj
While on her book tour in my area she made an invitation for people to come up and visit her if they want to know or talk more. I assume she was serious and hopefully she would remember that lol. From what I read on this forum her mom was the same way and was always happy to talk to Linda's fans somewhat to the chagrin of her dad who was a bit leery one of those fans could be trouble but I guess there were no incidents.
I have seen photos of Mary here and there and she does look to be a sweetheart. Glad to hear Linda passed on her big heart to her kids. I only wish Linda would trademark her name, image, music, etc. (somewhat like Priscilla did for Elvis) as a legacy to her kids and her fans. Linda may not feel worthy of that kind of attention but she will become more popular in death than she was in life so I think it is a good move to do something like that. Why let some less deserving capitalist pig gain from her talent? She should keep it in the family. Something to think about.
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Post by TonyE on Mar 28, 2017 19:16:07 GMT -5
Met Linda at the same Storyopolis in-store event mentioned by Mark Islam. It was an over twenty year wait - to meet her, not in line, that is...Ha,ha!.
Having been fully aware of her lack of comfort in such settings, she appeared uneasy and not given to small talk. She inscribed my Dedicated CD booklet and the Hasten insert as well. Knowing that she co-wrote it, I told her that Lo Siento Mi Vida song was one of my all-time favorite of hers, she fulfilled my request to autograph the lyric portion of the booklet.
Not only did I find myself in the same event as Mark, but the year prior, I, too, was in the audience at the Tonight Show skirmish.
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Post by TonyE on Mar 28, 2017 19:25:38 GMT -5
Oh, another thought came to me from that Storyopolis encounter: Don Grolnick had just passed away only recently and I gave Linda my condolences.
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Post by Dianna on Mar 28, 2017 21:00:41 GMT -5
That's cool! I didn't know you had an antique shop. Sounds like a great collaboration and I'm sure Mary is very talented. Do you have a website? I bought a real cute print from Mary R... She's very sweet and personable...
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Post by Jim on Sept 28, 2021 1:41:22 GMT -5
I met Linda once, 55 yrs ago. I was a professional baseball player on active duty at Camp Pendleton, Ca. One weekend in early 1966 in a Anaheim,Ca. I met Linda and another singer and we spent a few hours together. this was early in her career with the Stone Ponies..she was a lovely young lady and I hated to say goodbye knowing I wouldn’t be on the west coast much longer..I never saw her again.. A few yrs ago my sister told me Linda called our home in Chicago(in 1966) asking for me..I don’t know why she waited all these yrs to tell me about the phone call, perhaps because I had a girl friend in Chicago at that time..My only regret is not knowing why Linda called, if only I knew..
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