Fan Kris Johnson and Linda

THE FANS REACT…
By Fan Kris Johnson, Chicago, Illinois

It was a stormy night in Marlton, New Jersey, on October 8, 2005, but inside the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center folks were dry and buzzing with the anticipation of hearing Linda's debut of her new show after the release of BY MYSELF — dedicated to the music of Judy Garland. Fans came from as close as a few blocks away in New Jersey to as far away as Texas and Illinois.

Judi McCabe from Riverdale, New Jersey, has been a diehard Linda fan for a few years now and gets to as many concerts as she can. "I loved the concert!" she said. "I thought Linda's voice was absolutely amazing. The standards on the new CD are suited for her. Her renditions of the classics are simply classic. One of the best things about a Linda concert is seeing my friends. And, a side trip to Atlantic City wasn't too bad either!"

Nancy Comerford, also from New Jersey, stated that "…as I watched the concert in Lenape, I was reminded of the fact that although I am old enough to remember watching all of Judy Garland's TV shows, I never was a fan of hers. Linda has changed that with her new concert, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But the best part of the concert and the album is — it is the first time I knew the words because I grew up with these songs and really appreciated it!"

As always, Linda brought down the house as fans gave her and her new material an enthusiastic reception.

Betty Duffy of Chicago, Illinois, said, "I have been a fan of Linda's for several years now, but just recently have flown to see her at several concerts. You can't beat hearing her live — she is much better in person than on a recording, and this material (Garland's songs) makes her simply shine… it's almost as if the songs were written for Linda's voice."

Carol Penton from Houston flew in specifically for the concert. She commented, "I have never heard Linda sound as magnificent as she did tonight. I have been a Linda fan since she was in JEKYLL & HYDE at the Alley Theatre in Houston in 1990 — which I saw 23 times. Linda was in most of the shows that I saw. I feel like I was in on the ground floor as far as recognizing her enormous talent before the rest of the world. For several years in the early 1990s, Linda would come to the Alley and perform a concert on New Year's Eve. I went to every one of those. When doing THE CIVIL WAR, she and members of the cast would perform a concert on Monday evenings when the theatre was dark. I went to those. I know great things are going to continue happening for Linda. I look forward to the musical experience."

Fans that attended the show at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center thrilled to the following selections of the evening: "Almost Like Being In Love;" "The Best Is Yet To Come/The Man I Love/Just in Time;" "Me And My Shadow;" "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart/The Trolley Song;" "You Go To My Head;" "It Never Was You;" "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody;" "The Boy Next Door/You Made Me Love You;" "Don't Rain On My Parade;" "I'd Like To Hate Myself In The Morning;" "It's All For You;" "The Rainbow's End;" "Vienna;" "Do It Again;" "Stormy Weather/The Man That Got Away;" "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows/Over the Rainbow;" "By Myself;" "Look For The Silver Lining;" "San Francisco/Swanee."

Fan Amanda Perry and Linda

Linda Stands Center Stage All By Herself
By Fan Amanda Perry, Houston, Texas

"What a day this has been. What a rare mood I'm in. It's almost like being in love..." with Linda Eder, all over again!

As Linda Eder joined the Houston Symphony for three magical nights of concerts in October, many a subscription-holder was overheard remarking how great it was to have her back in Houston. Most all of them remembered her from her debut in JEKYLL & HYDE, which premiered in Houston in 1990. After most songs, many asked each other, "Was that a song from the show?" referring to the signature songs from the show that audiences most identify her with. Later, at a private reception for symphony patrons, Linda remarked, "Houston is like a second home to me... and those days are like Camelot."

But this is the Linda Eder of today, of now. She is living "A New Life" in the songs of her latest album, BY MYSELF: THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND, and it is clear that by embracing and celebrating her past, her roots and influences, Linda has reached a stride we have never seen or heard so clearly. Stronger. Independent. Linda Eder stands alone in the spotlight, and it loves her, and she loves it.

While the world renowned Houston Symphony opened each night with spectacular performances and phenomenal soloists, the melodies of masterpieces and swells of violin strings built to the highlight of the three evenings: Linda taking the stage. As she took the microphone in hand and stood center stage, the silence in Jones Hall, heavy with anticipation, was pierced by her crystal clear voice as she opened with the upbeat "Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love." The audience was thrilled not only with the arrangement, but with her soaring voice and powerful delivery. Next came the haunting "Me And My Shadow," followed by the beautiful medley of "The Boy Next Door/You Made Me Love You."

Linda took time to acknowledge her roots and connection to Houston with JEKYLL & HYDE in introducing Jack Murphy's amazing song, "The Rainbow's End." She also mixed her metaphors with a very timely baseball reference, with "He really hit one out of the park!" as the Houston Astros were making their first appearance in a World Series during her performances! What a talent Jack Murphy has for writing the perfect song for her voice, and for writing songs that stop the show. A haunting "It Never Was You" was followed by Linda's now staple and stirring rendition of "Don't Rain On My Parade" which brought the crowds to the edge of their seats! (Sunday's performance of "DROMP" was especially phenomenal, as Linda mixed her sense of humor with her sweet spirit and magnificent talent — see "My Inspiration.")

"Do It Again," which Linda portrayed as "a song that manages to be sexy while keeping its clothes on," stirred deep emotions and all those lovin' feelings, bringing to mind a candlelit dinner with roses and champagne and the goodnight kiss that lasts and lasts... and while that image floated through the air, Linda's band launched into a fabulous rendition of Judy's hit, "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," which got everyone's toes tappin' and swayin' in their seats. Linda's voice brought the house down, only to precede a touch of torch with a great combination of "Stormy Weather/The Man That Got Away."

"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" led into the Judy classic "Over The Rainbow," with Linda taking it in her own time and manner, with an interpretation all her own which conjures up the heartache and longing and hopefulness of the little eight-year-old girl sitting on the green shag carpet watching THE WIZARD OF OZ. She then poured out her soul, and that incredible voice, in "By Myself," declaring, as it were, that Linda Eder is at home on the stage, in her voice, in her experience, defining herself, by her own terms, and by herself.

Encores of a new classic, "Vienna," and one of Judy's classics, "Look For The Silver Lining," ended a perfect evening and a perfect concert series with the newest musical legend of our time, Linda Eder.

Fan Connie Brady and Linda

Somewhere Over The Rainbow,
She's Blowing Kisses
By Fan Connie Brady, Houston, Texas

Hurricane Season is officially over in the Gulf Coast. The fresh snows are feathering Boston's Bunker Hill Tower, and the souvenir programs from Carnegie Hall have been mailed around the countryside from Linda Eder's recent Judy Garland Tribute Concert. There is a deep peace settling over Ederville as it drifts into a wintry, cold, blue night of seasonal holiday sleep with frosty festival days. We fans each have our personal memories of the first moment we finally heard the new album, BY MYSELF, when we stretched out in our favorite lounging clothes and chair to listen and soak up the orchestra's opening notes. We recall the delight of our soul jumping for joy when hearing Linda's first notes on this new CD collection of Judy Garland tunes. It was a long time coming… a long wait. Most seasoned fans had waited several years for this serious album. Now we finally held the CD case, read the liner notes and devoured the vocal notes into our being. Ahhhhhh... it was Linda Eder at her finest once again, possibly better than ever.

Some months back, Linda started touring, featuring songs from this new CD. The reviews began to pour in, written by delighted fans and press, and the message began to spread across the media and Internet, through e-mails and message boards, and by phone calls. Linda was better than ever! The new material was magnificent. Perfection!
A concert featuring the BY MYSELF: THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND program was a "must see!" And so it was.

Houston, Texas Concerts — October 21-22-23, 2005 — Linda Eder with the Houston Symphony for Three Nights

It had been several years since Linda had played Houston and we fans had been spoiled by her previous frequent concerts, enjoying all her concerts in Dallas, Austin, Houston, plus her Christmas concerts. Linda Eder is the adopted theatrical daughter of the City of Houston, which loaned her to Broadway where fame made her name known. Here, she is just loved as Linda! Her first theatre start, in JEKYLL & HYDE, is a prime stone in the ring of successes worn by the Alley Theatre. Would she return when the moon was right, the earth was on its perfect axis and NASA could fly into space as well as her voice soar into the heavens? Would she return again to the city where she had lived and been widely respected and loved in the community? We hoped. We waited. We prayed and wished her well. We wondered if Linda would return in glory and splendor to take to the stage, stand in the spotlight, allow us to welcome her to her second home, to welcome her back.

Would Linda Eder ever walk to the stool on stage, lightly touch the wooden seat as only Linda Eder can so dramatically do, and then slip her tall body frame upon the stool and sing to us again? Would she sing to her Houston children and family, as she had done once, wearing a long, black "theatre" dress during the run of THE CIVIL WAR and more often wearing delightful, designer gowns in more recent years? We were thrilled to learn that she indeed would be coming back to Houston.

Lady Luck favored us when Linda Eder returned to play Houston on October 2lst, 22nd and 23rd, a Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Jones Hall in downtown Houston on the most beautiful and delicious and wonderful weekend we have had in years and years! Besides perfect weather, the Astros were playing in the World Series for the first time in their history. Houston was celebrating, the weather was blue skies, perfect temperatures, sunny days, warm nights, and the whole city was pouring into downtown to watch the World Series together on huge TV screens in the city park across the street from Jones Hall. The trees growing in the park were planted by a large group of us when the Space Shuttle had blown up and my daughter's tears had fallen down her face as the first trees were planted to honor the fallen astronauts and each child was asked to say a few words to honor the ground.

The wind that blew through Houston that first Friday night was still warm, balmy breezes left over from Hurricane Rita weeks before. Linda was arriving when the city had been cleansed and blessed from opening its door to Katrina and Rita evacuees. A spirit of love was pouring throughout the city, and people were even more friendly and happier than usual, which is a high scale of friendliness even by Texas standards. The World Series was much needed for all of us to yell and scream. I remember first screaming for the ball players, then feeling the insanity of Katrina and Rita pour out of me. Other people said they felt the same way and it was so good to have something good to just celebrate. Our family was triple blessed. Linda was about to perform and we could not wait! We had actually gotten word in late January and had been waiting 10 months to see The Linda Eder!

We arrived at Jones Hall early to see the crowds, meet old friends and look for a few new ones we had e-mailed. No baseball caps that night. We were dressed in after-five cocktail attire. It was fun to dress up after baseball all week! The first thing we saw was The Marquee with Linda's picture and people pouring into the concert hall through the glass doors. The air was filled with chatter and it was delightful! LINDA WAS BACK!
Linda's fans were back, all gathered in one spot and a'buzz. Her concerts just are not like other concerts. There's this air of expectancy, anticipation and wonderment on people's faces. You can tell who has heard Linda sing before by almost looking at the faces in the seats. You can tell those who do not know the treat in store for them and those who can't wait to experience it again! It's like the best rollercoaster ride! Arriving at the Box Office Will-Call window, we ran into the PBS Arts Interviewer who stated he had been with Linda all afternoon and she was in GREAT spirits. We smiled and were glad to hear the news. She was doing press interviews and charming the media. This was a good sign!

The first night we sat in the third row center and were tickled when the Conductor, Michael Krajewski, came out before starting the concert and gave the game score! The Astros were ahead! The audience was delighted. Laughter poured forth and cheers were heard for the Astros. Then, baton raised, the first sounds of the Houston Symphony began, and "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" was played. The crowd howled! Words to the song ran across the large TV screens over the stage. We all sang and cheered and laughed. At the end of the song, the conductor raised his pant legs to show us he was following Houston Mayor Bill White's order to, "WEAR NO SOCKS!" The huge hall roared in laughter again! It was all warm, loving and family, as we are a warm city.

The Houston Symphony played their first half of the concert, featuring a violinist at one point, who was so magnificent that I wept at his Hungarian Rhapsody. Magnifico! I was so thankful I had not skipped the first half as I sometimes do. These arrangements were so beautiful and touching that I arrived early each night to hear them and dared not miss a note by being late and having to wait to be seated after intermission. This concert was a delight. Then I remembered we had Linda coming out after intermission. That's just how pleasant an evening this was... the best was yet to come and the night was already a success. I could not wait to hear the orchestra playing her scores and Linda singing. I hoped it would equal her CD quality.

When Linda Eder came on stage in her lovely, paisley designer gown, it was like an angel joined the Orchestra. Each night, the crowd adored her. Each night her voice SOARED through the enormous Jones Hall. Its architects built Jones Hall for a voice such as hers to showcase an artist's voice in full, Godly beauty. It was so exciting to witness Linda's musical conductor, John Oddo, as he was also front and center on piano and at times, standing and conducting. He was brilliant, energetic, and a perfectionist in timing as he and Linda weaved musical magic for all of us. Linda Eder sang, cracked her jokes and told her personal stories... her voice the first night was choked up as she spoke of her beginnings in Houston at the Alley Theatre. Each night, her voice grew more confident during this story-time and by Sunday night, she was right at home and she knew she was loved, loved, loved by all her old and personal friends she had met here while working at the Alley years ago.

Saturday she had golfed all day and then found herself still thinking about her first golf game. She was so pleased to have experienced a new challenge and the fun of being outdoors during the utterly gorgeous weather! Each day she was in town, Linda was seeing and talking to more and more old friends. By Saturday and Sunday night, Linda was totally at home. She gave immaculate performances. There was nothing left wanting. Her range was more incredible than ever before. Her joy was flooding her songs. Her spirits were high and her notes higher. The famous Eder belting was memorable (can still hear it in my mind's memory and it still fills me with delight!), but the parts which were sweet, touching and brilliantly sad were her notes sung to the old Judy Garland songs. They evoked melancholy, heartache, lost love, misplaced trusts and memories of brokenhearted romances gone awry. Out of these medleys arose a new, vibrant portion of her concert, which celebrates love, done more magnificently than any artist I have seen on stage. Ella Fitzgerald could sing the blues for me on stage in Houston's Tower Theatre, but Linda Eder sang the best celebration of love songs that I have ever heard on stage. If you are not in love when you walk in, you want to be when you walk out. I know 3 men and 5 women, including myself, who found new relationships, being inspired to love again after hearing Linda's renditions of the songs on BY MYSELF: THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND.

Sunday night was bitter tasting to know Linda was leaving and the beautiful concerts were over! The wind stirred up and blew hard suddenly. The air turned from warm at 8:00 p.m. to freezing cold while we were saying goodbye to Linda at the stage door as she headed to her hotel. It was an omen of our soon to be loss to the White Sox. We were humbly grateful to be in the World Series, just as we were humbly grateful to have heard Linda Eder in concert for three nights. The second night we sat in the front row and she blew kisses as she was coming and going for her encore numbers. In her new, ecstatic, happy state these days, Linda Eder is blowing a lot of kisses at concerts and others are memorizing them just as we did. She is so sweet and all who waited to meet her were stunned by her down-to-earth nature and her celestial uniqueness.

Linda... an angel on stage!

Sunday night Linda got lost in the words while singing "Don't Rain On My Parade" (which she had nailed on Friday and Saturday night)… and she stopped and said, "I did not think I was hungry! Why am I singing about buns of salted butter?" She asked for help with the words from the audience, and my daughter, Amanda, timidly raised her hand. Linda said, "Oh, good, I need some help." She came over to our seats facing the stage and bent down. Then she and Amanda sang "Don't Rain On My Parade." Amanda wrote about it better than I can tell it. She shares it in this issue of THE VOICE on the "My Inspiration" page. I was memorizing the moment so I could rerun it in my mind any time I want, but I asked her to share it with you, as it was her turning point. She hasn't stopped singing since or come off her cloud nine yet! No one here is expecting her ever to forget such an extraordinary moment.

We really did try to get digital photos but the stage spotlights were so bright or Linda Eder is such an angel, that we've decided that most of the photos show angel light and spirits' orbs. So, for their creative uniqueness, we share one of our photos of Linda Eder's triumphant return to Houston, Texas. We always knew she was an angel!

The marquee at Jones Hall — " Linda Eder is back!"

We would love to hear from you! Please write to THE VOICE at lethevoice@comcast.net
or feel free to share your comments in THE VOICE section of the Linda Eder Message Board.