The Voice - The Official Linda Eder Newsletter

June 2003

Dear Friends,

Ordinarily it is hard to get me in the house in the summertime, but since it has rained for forty days and forty nights and is raining now…I am in the house. So is my son. He is sitting right beside me begging to use the computer. After a battle for the computer mouse from the office desktop, I have set him up with a game on the laptop. With a little luck, I will be able to concentrate long enough to write this letter.

As usual, time has flown by and I can hardly believe that it is time for another letter. This summer will also fly by because it is the summer of CAMILLE CLAUDEL at the Goodspeed. It seems like it was yesterday when I still had six months to prepare for the role. Now rehearsals are just around the corner, so I have been trying to cram in as much free summer as I can between concerts. The rain is really cramping my style!!!

Speaking of concerts…thank you for showing up and raising the roofs of venues all across the country. Many people work hard to put on the shows for you, so it is greatly appreciated by all. I have really enjoyed singing the new songs from BROADWAY MY WAY. Some of my favorites are: “I Am What I Am,” “Impossible Dream,” “Edelweiss,” “Losing My Mind,” and, of course, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Most of the time I have met bunches of you at the stage door; but sometimes I haven’t, and I hope you forgive and understand. I’ve never known how to greet people quickly, so if time is really tight, it’s better not to try at all. Many of you drive an awfully long way, and I always feel guilty when I can’t be there for you.

As many of you know, I have a new album coming out this September. It’s strange to say “new” because I didn’t have to lift a finger to make it. It’s an album made of material that I recorded when I was signed to Angel Records. Angel is under the control of my friend, Bruce Lundvall. He has run Blue Note Records for years and is widely thought of as a legend in the music business- a true “music man.” He was the first record guy to come to hear me sing all those years ago, and we became friends then. I wasn’t jazz and couldn’t be on his label at the time but we remained friends, and I have always respected his opinions. This new album will include selections from the two albums I recorded with Angel, as well as stuff that was recorded but never released during those years when the creative decisions were being made by other people. We all hope you will like this album.

The other night I took Jake to his first Broadway Musical, FROG AND TOAD, a wonderful children’s show that he loved. Somewhere in the second act when I was thinking about all the songs the leads had to sing and wondering if they ever forgot their lyrics, I suddenly got a panic attack for CAMILLE CLAUDEL. All I could think about was the fact that I had never done a show where I had so much dialogue. I am nervous about it. As many of you know, I have been known to go up on a lyric now and then. In my own show, it’s no problem. I make a joke out of it. Somehow I don’t think that will work in CAMILLE. I’m also trying to get in better shape, and since my parents are now visiting…and cooking for us…it’s really hard. Speaking of parents, my mother is now feeling fine, and the scare we went through is now fading from our thoughts. I want to thank all of you for the kind words and concern. Thank you for thinking of us.

All in all, life is very good. Every day when I sit on the porch swing with my son in the late afternoon, I count my many blessings. All of you are one of those many blessings. Thank you!