By now you may already know about Linda Ronstadt's recent interview with AARP, in which she revealed that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Perhaps your reaction was like mine. I gasped, and then sat for a good long time, with tears falling down my cheeks.
With the combination of her talent, luck, and hard work she's made a big career; with her keen intelligence she made it a fascinating one for us to follow. She has walked right through the fences that separate Different Drum from Pirates of Penzance, You're No Good from Mean to Me, and has embraced hard rock, country, opera, operetta, standards...
And always that voice. That glorious, rich, supple, once in a generation, once in a million moons voice.
The clip below is from her mariachi album, Canciones de Mi Padre. The first time I saw and heard her sing this music, I was moved to tears, and now here I am again, crying like a rainstorm for Linda, for her voice, for her illness, her passion, and for the difficult road ahead. She said in the AARP interview, "No one can sing with Parkinson's disease. No matter how hard you try." It is so hard to imagine how that must feel, hard to imagine her not singing.
I hope she will surprise us all.
Amen
Posted by: Chicago Bob | August 24, 2013 at 01:59 AM
I knew Linda in L.A when we were both puppies. She of the relaxed stage persona and a voice as angelic as Karen Carpenter's...watching her sing with the Stone Ponies from the side of the revolving stage at the Hullabaloo, nee Errol Carrol's, and the future Aquarius Theatre. Sitting at one of the big round tables in the front bar at the Troubadour with Glenn Fry, Peter Yarrow and others, Linda as fresh as her voice and as cute as a kitten...and then an amazing career, and the trilogy of albums with Nelson Riddle that set a benchmark for standards that still resonates today.
Like you, my dear Laurel, a voice that will NEVER be silenced in the hearts of those who have heard it. Linda has ALL of us in her corner, and NONE of us will EVER abandon her, her music, or her spirit. Much love to her...and you too, Laurel. Keep the flame burning.
bob
Posted by: bob segarini | August 24, 2013 at 02:43 AM
I met Linda in the early 80s, after my car accident, after I'd left the Transfer. She was in NY doing "Pirates", and a mutual friend introduced us. She is smart, well-read, and funny, and it was she who connected me with my ever-since-then voice teacher, Marge Rivingston,who got me singing again.
Linda's a big star in my heavens, that's for sure!
And thanks, Bob, for your kind words.
Blessings, Laurel
Posted by: Laurel Massé | August 24, 2013 at 08:23 AM
This made the news in England. Her words "No one can sing with Parkinson's disease. No matter how hard you try." were incredibly sad as she had obviously tried hard and had to admit defeat.
I remember as a small boy listening to my Grandad's 78rpm record of Caruso. Even through that medium his voice still struck me as being special. He was long gone but I was experiencing his singing for the first time and it has always stayed with me.
The video you chose to use of Linda was new to me and thus a performance I experienced for the first time as if she was singing live to me and any other viewers of your blog. A hundred years ago a performance was seen by those in the audience and lived on only in their memories. Then, one day, they were gone and a performance lived on in legend or reputation only. It was the equivalent of walking by the sea and leaving footsteps in the sand only for the tide of time to come in and wash them away. Now it is like the dinosaur footsteps immortalised forever in the ground where they walked millions of years ago. There will always be people coming fresh to Linda's songs and performances as new and they will enjoy each of them greatly.
Looking back on my life I can see situations which seemed impossibly bad or hopeless or tragic but unexpected blessing flowed from them. God can work in even the worst of situations and provide answers to prayers yet to be asked. Linda will be prayed for by those who know her personally and also by those who know only her voice.
It is interesting and intriguing that you chose the video of Linda which you did from all the videos available. It was so enchanting to see her at the end as the two doves flew down on to her outstretched hands. The final image of a smiling Linda holding the two doves was radiantly beautiful.
That picture was the perfect illustration of Song Of Solomon 2:14 "My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."
Warmest regards,
Kevin Ainsworth
Posted by: Kevin Ainsworth | August 28, 2013 at 10:37 AM