|
Alan
Sternquist from California writes…
|
Dear
Linda,
I enjoyed your Summer/Fall 2006 newsletter very much. It reminded
me of our visit with my wife's brother and his wife at their
Minnesota cabin on Star Lake last September. We were treated
to truly spectacular sunsets and the daytime scenery was first
rate. My wife, Elaine, played Norwegian Golf with her brother,
Dennis, while I was a losing participant in minnow racing. In
Norwegian Golf, a pair of golf balls, tied to each other with
a 2-foot length of string, is thrown at a pair of horizontal
bars in hopes the string gets caught and wraps tight around
one. That's how you score. It's nearly as exciting as chasing
minnows by blowing on them through a soda straw as you encourage
them to swim the length of a 12-foot rain gutter, capped off
at each end and filled with water. The minnows were harvested
directly from the lake, shimmering in the golden light of a
late summer afternoon. When the game ended, the little fish
were returned to the water, their work finished for the day.
We've been to two of your concerts. The last one was at Montalvo,
just south of San Jose, California. We met you at the reception
after. My wife wished she'd had a camera to capture my expression
of joy when I got a hug from you. I told of the times, before
we got back together, I would go on all-day drives in the California
country to listen to nothing but your CDs. At the time, I had
but three… AND SO MUCH MORE, IT'S TIME, and IT'S NO SECRET
ANYMORE. The musicians were talented and the recording quality
superb. The deep bass was reproduced nicely by my Cadillac's
subwoofer. It excites me just writing about your wonderful music.
At your concerts, I can see your appreciation of your musicians
by the way you, closed-eyed, bathe your senses in their solos.
I so look forward to your next San Francisco Bay area appearance.
This may interest you. My wife and I met at a church picnic
in the summer of 1963 when she visited her uncle who was our
minister. We dated through high school and college. But things
have a way of not going according to plan, and one day she informed
me she had gotten engaged to another. The year was 1967. Five
years ago, having not heard from her in nearly thirty-five years,
I received an e-mail from her asking what I was doing. I replied,
"I'm getting married to you, if you'll have me." And
so, two years later, we were married in the rural, southeastern
South Dakota church where we first met forty years earlier.
Dreams can come true. I'm married to my ideal woman and got
a hug from my favorite singer. Life just doesn't get much better
than that! Best regards to you.
|
| Tony
Chien from Taiwan writes… |
David
Bowman from Nevada writes…
|
|
Dear
Linda,
This
is Tony from Taiwan. I've heard your CDs and have shared the
music from JEKYLL & HYDE many times with our team members.
I also saw the show in New York many times. You've a wonderful
voice from God, and I always wonder if you will have a chance
to come to Taiwan. There are lots of your fans here, and it
will feel amazing to have you here. I like your voice, and
I have heard the album with the highlights from JEKYLL &
HYDE more than a thousand times. I hope you will have the
chance to come to Taipei. I hope my dream comes true.
God bless you!
|
Dear
Linda,
I
just had to write to tell you how much I enjoyed your concert
appearance here in Las Vegas with Michael Feinstein. I took
two of my friends to the concert, and I have now converted
two more people who weren't familiar with your music into
such fans that they both have purchased every CD they could
find since the concert. This was the first time I had the
opportunity to see you in concert, but I have been following
along with your career since first seeing you on "Star
Search," and I can tell you it was worth the wait.
Thank you so much for all the beautiful music you provide
the world.
|
Fans Michael and Leanne from Minnesota say, "Thanks
for a memorable evening, Linda! It was a thrill to meet
you!"
|
|
Steve
Waller from Central Lakes College in Minnesota writes…
|
Fan
Kristin Kraska and Linda
|
I enjoyed the very nice piece by Heather Hunt (in the Summer/Fall
edition of THE VOICE) regarding Linda's outstanding, articulate,
moving, expressive, and evocative commencement address last
spring at Central Lakes College. We are proud to know Linda
as a "product" of our part of the world and one
who hasn't been lost along the way. She's not only a great
singer, but gifted as a genuine, intelligent and forthright
human being with inner qualities every bit as precious as
those we see and hear.
|
|
Fans
Amanda Reichard and Gabriella Greco with Linda
|
Fan David Presley and Linda
|
|
Ken
Dion from New Hampshire writes…
|
Kevin
Hemenger from Florida writes…
|
Linda,
I know you only from that Mohegan Sun 2001 "Bravo"
Special. I am a rock n' roller at heart. I like some country
too. But that Christmas show from Mohegan Sun really opened
my eyes. This year I just purchased your DVD of that show,
and I'm in awe. I'm a grown man, but "If I Had My Way"
made me lose it altogether. It was a great Christmas for
me, playing that over and over. All the blessings in the
world to you.
|
Dear
Linda,
I have been a fan of yours since the early 90s, and I have
seen you perform several times, including in JEKYLL &
HYDE and in CAMILLE CLAUDEL at the Goodspeed Theatre. I
am now living in Tampa, Florida, and I attended your concert
in January at Ruth Eckerd Hall. You sounded the best that
I have ever heard you! Keep it up! Best regards to you.
|
Chris
and Jim Jackson from Minnesota write…
|
My
dear, wonderful lady,
I
just finished reading the Summer/Fall edition of THE VOICE.
The tears are still wet on my cheeks. Your description of
your eight days tugged at my heartstrings. I, too, have
such wonderful memories of Minnesota, the lakes and summer,
as I was blessed to have a family that had a lake home on
Round Lake. I watched my oldest son (one year older than
you) learn the lures of the lakes from my Dad who was an
avid fisherman and knew all the walleye spots on Mille Lacs
and Round Lake (just south of Nisswa). As a young girl,
I spent many early mornings on Mille Lacs, trolling for
that illusive walleye. My Dad and I had such a wonderful
relationship, and, as I grew up, I longed for those times,
hearing the loons and then, when the sun rose, being able
to see them and watching the sunset as we fished late into
evening. The greatest thrill was watching "Grampa"
and Jimmie as he patiently taught him all the great secrets
for catching fish. I so remember the first time he let him
drive the boat. It had a small motor, and he let him take
it out by himself. He held a 150 foot rope and called out
the directions as Jimmie proudly went around in circles.
The smile is embedded in my memory forever. We must experience
this to fully understand the "call of the northland."
I am so glad that you shared this with Jake. Our son, Jimmie,
has a love for the lakes and for fishing. If he weren't
in the missions field, he probably would have been one of
the "in fishermen." When my Dad died, there was
a small insurance policy that came to me. We used the money
to buy Jimmie a fishing boat and motor. It was a legacy
from my father to his only grandson. So when I read your
letter, I welled up with tears as the memories overwhelmed
me. My Dad used to clean every little "sunnie"
that Jimmie caught, and we would feast on tiny little pieces
of crisp fish (about 100 to make a meal). I can still see
my Dad, standing for hours cleaning them, and my son standing
by his side learning that trick as well.
I'm sure you remember the rest of my family. Jeannie has
three children, and her oldest was born the same day and
same year as Jake. Jana has three boys. Jimmie has three
children, and two of them are talented musicians. They all
live in town, so Jim and I spend a lot of time with family.
We just returned from Branson and spent most of the driving
time listening to your albums. Jim still loves you! I had
my 70th birthday last May, and Jim will soon be 74 years
old. We don't feel old yet!
You have given us such joy over the years, and we have such
fond memories of those days at MirMar, Fletchers, Mariott,
Decathalon, etc. Did we miss any of your concerts? I don't
think so. Stay happy, and believe me, 45 is good… 70
is good… and I think 90 will be good as well! Our love
to you, beautiful lady.
|
Jim
Kops from Wisconsin writes…
|
John
Sherman from South Carolina writes…
|
|
About
a year or so ago, I heard Linda Eder sing on our public television
station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a presentation I believe
to have been "The Leading Ladies of Broadway." I'm
a great music fan. Being a senior citizen, all my favorites
are gone… Dino, Frank, Louie, Sammy, Ella, Patsy, Sarah.
I've never been a great record, tape or CD buyer. I can sing
the words to just about all the thousands of songs the above
have recorded, as well as many others. The night I heard Ms.
Eder sing, she sang "Man Of La Mancha." I had never
heard of her before, but I went out the next day a bought
her Broadway CD, the only one I could find. I love "Some
People" from GYPSY, "Man Of La Mancha," "I
Am What I Am," and, of course, "Don't Rain On My
Parade." (Many singers are afraid of that one due to
the comparison.) I saw Linda Eder in Brookfield, Wisconsin
in February. How refreshing to hear an outstanding talent!
|
In all of my 81 years, I have never written to a celebrity,
but since seeing and hearing Linda Eder in a PBS "Great
Performances," we have acquired three of her CDs. My
wife, Fran, and I just don't tire of her voice quality,
range and variety! How nice to hear a trained voice after
hearing what today's music has to offer. We are looking
forward to attending her concert in Atlanta in March.
|
|
Anthony
Tronieri from New Jersey writes…
|
|
It
was December of 2001, late at night, and I was watching TV
while everyone was tucked away in bed. There was a Christmas
special on that night, and I turned to the channel that was
airing it. I heard a song or two from a vocalist whom I had
never heard before. They went to a commercial and when they
came back, the same voice was still singing. I thought, "Oh,
this is not a Christmas special with lots of my favorites.
This is just her!" I listened to a few more numbers and
then ran to get a blank tape to record the rest of the concert.
(Don't worry! I bought the DVD shortly after!)
I
have long been a lover of music (good music). I grew up in
a family of music lovers. My Dad played every instrument that
you can think of, and we had to listen to him practice one
of them every night. We enjoyed listening to them very much.
My favorite singers were people like Ella Fitzgerald, Doris
Day, Sarah Vaughan, Kathryn Grayson, and Barbra Streisand.
You have become, in the five years since that memorable TV
concert, my very favorite entertainer. My Dad was a tough
critic when it came to quality in entertainers. I have inherited
that same tough critical way. You, in my opinion, are at the
top of the list of quality and genuine talent in a performer.
You can sing anything from Opera right on down to Pop and
Rock & Roll.
Someday
I hope to be fortunate enough to see you in concert. I wish
for you health and happiness now and forever. You have given
me one of my most precious gifts, the gift of listening to
inspiring music that lifts me up and sends me to my little
part of heaven right here in my room. Thank you, and don't
even think of being 45 years old as any kind of a roadblock.
Throw the age thing right out of the window! I am 63, and
I do everything that I want to do. I may look a little older
outside, but inside I am the same person as I was when I was
growing up in South Philadelphia years ago. Thanks again for
your gift to me.
|
|
Paul
DeBoer from Wyoming writes…
|
Fans
Mark Hagen (left) and Todd Richards are thrilled to meet
Linda in person after she brought the house down at the
Sharon Wilson Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
|
Dear
Linda Eder,
This
is a first for me, a letter to an entertainer. I am a retired
airplane driver, kind of like a bus driver only different,
living in Jackson, Wyoming with my Morgan horses and my
sweet mule, Foxy. I try to spoil myself with very high quality,
beautiful surroundings, Morgan horses to train and ride,
and the best sippin' whiskey. That brings me to you and
your music. You are a singer without equal. I grew up with
Judy Garland and if she heard you sing "Over The Rainbow"
on IT'S TIME, her smile would be something to behold.
When I listen to you sing a song, I think that song is my
favorite. Then you sing another, and that one becomes the
one, and it goes on and on. While listening to every CD,
after a song ends I am always hopeful that there is another
and another. And so at the risk of sounding presumptuous,
more please. You make the winters shorter and warmer, and
you warm this man's heart. After all, it really is the little
things.
|
|
Judy
Joslin from Michigan writes…
|
Dear
Linda,
You
came into my life one sunny morning while I was watching
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and heard you singing
music from JEKYLL & HYDE. I fell in love with your voice.
I unplugged my iron (yup, I still do my husband's shirts,
but not windows), grabbed the car keys and drove to the
music store. I was only able to find the LINDA EDER cassette
at that time. I couldn't wait to get into my car to hear
the entire tape. I had goose bumps all the way home!
I lobbied for your music and was heard! Since that bright
May morning quite a few years ago, I have introduced you
to every friend I know (and I have a lot of friends). I
have checked the music departments at every store to make
sure you are in their selections and bought every CD you've
made to date. Thanks to you, I never have a problem on what
to give as gifts (especially your Christmas music). And
finally, we saw you in person for the first time this past
Saturday night (March 3, 2007) at the Cadillac Palace Theatre
in Chicago! What a thrill it was for my husband and me!
You were fantastic!
Your warmth glows through your beauty, wit and magnificent
voice along with your fabulous musicians. This was an evening
we will always remember. (My husband, Dick, was thrilled
with his birthday gift from me!) I must learn how to get
front row seats for future shows. You can bet this won't
be our last evening with our favorite entertainer.
Thank you Linda for a beautiful chapter added to our book
of life. God bless your journey. I've never written a fan
letter before. I just had to write to tell you that we are
so glad you came into our lives.
|
|
Fan
Gerry Cardwell (right) introduces her son, Tracy, and her
grandson, Taylor, to "the voice!"
|
|
Fan
Karin Holt, Linda and Fan Heather Hunt
|
Heather
Hunt from Minnesota writes... |
| The
concert in Minneapolis was my friend Karin's first Eder experience.
After the concert, Karin tested Linda's Norwegian skills and
although Linda was a good sport, she and Karin won't be having
a prolonged conversation in Norwegian. Apparently, Norwegian
was the language Linda's parents spoke when they didn't want
the three Eder kids to know what they were talking about. All
in all, it was a great night! |
Fans Mary Murphy, Kris Johnson, Debbie Garner and Carol
Blalock had a blast in Chicago when Linda performed there
in March 2007!
|
A
Chicago-area "Fan Family" Reunion! |
|
