|
 Linda
Davis
An Evening With Songs
News Article and Concert Review by TG
On Sunday, March 10, 2008, the Homestead
Community Concert Association presented ‘song stylist’ Linda
Davis as its final program of the 2007-2008 season.
A determined teen from east Texas with big dreams and a desire
to make them come true, Linda packed up an old diesel Delta ’88
with a U-Haul in tow and headed to Nashville in 1982. To make
ends meet, she took a job as a receptionist at a recording
studio and sang demos for local songwriters. In the evenings,
she sang and played in the piano bar at Nashville’s City
Sheraton.
I asked Linda for her definition of a ‘song stylist’. She said
it was taking one of her songs or a song written and/or recorded
by someone else and making it her own. This ability to interpret
a song soon made her one of the most sought after session
singers in Nashville. She caught the attention of label
executives and landed her first record deal with CBS/Epic
Records. Davis gained a legion of friends and fans in the music
industry including superstar Reba McEntire. Reba invited Linda
to go on tour with her. They recorded the duet “Does He Love
You” which became a #1 hit and earned both artists several
awards including a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
This opened the door for deals with Capitol Records and later
Arista Records. Linda, have you considered the possibility of
singing duets with yourself? Your pre-recorded track approach
would work.
Other notable successes include singing on the soundtrack for
the motion picture Black Dog starring Patrick Swayze and
recording “Make It Through” with Randy Travis. I bet you have
heard Linda on jingles for Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dr. Pepper,
and Mug Root Beer. Other collaborations include concerts with
the likes of Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Kenny Rogers.
Anyone who works in this business has that one person that they
hold closest to their heart. Linda told me that for her it was
Kenny Rogers. She considers him a friend as well as her mentor.
Not a bad source of support and advice!
Linda’s seven CDs, 14 music videos, and the ups and downs of the
business did not limit her personal growth. She says: “Juggling
a career and a family, being a wife and the mother of 20 year
old Hillary and five-year-old Rylee, life can be interesting.”
When I pressed her for details regarding the program she gently
but firmly let me know that the details were not important. “Be
surprised.” She asked me as part of the audience to just listen
and find what she called my “personal joy”.
“I know I have the gift of relating to others. I want to show
women that it is OK for them to allow themselves permission to
include passion in their lives.” If you look up the word
“passion” in the dictionary you will find that after the first
and religious meanings, particularly important at this time of
year, passion is any one of the emotions, such as hate, grief,
love, fear, joy, etc. or all of these collectively. It is also
the drive for excitement, enthusiasm, affection, and desire.
Linda Davis embraces all of these as a person and in her songs.
Linda, among other philanthropic endeavors, is the National VP
and Nashville Spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy
Association. “You must always give back”, she says. Through her
music, motivational messages, inspiration, and encouragement to
anyone who crosses her path, giving back seems to be something
she does quite well. As far as her future, Linda says: “I’m a
glass half-full kind of girl. I can see the future and I can’t
wait.”
Linda’s group included Matt McKenzie, bass guitar; Wes Little,
drums; and Catherine Marx, piano. The accompaniment for the
first half of the program was digital tracks of percussion and
brass along with live piano. This was controlled on-stage by the
pianist. The interweaving of stories to the audience,
introductions, comments, live and prerecorded accompaniments,
all meshed beautifully. The pianist was absolutely sensational.
I was disappointed that she did not get a solo spot.
The program opened with “Only In It For The Love”. This was
followed by her top ten single “Some Things Were Meant To Be”.
From her album I Have Arrived ,which contains many songs of her
own, we were treated to: “Love Sneakin’ Up On You”, “I Have
Arrived”, “Livin’ The Dream”, and “I Know That’s Right”. Linda
told us that Christopher Reed wrote her a letter expressing his
thanks for the inspirational messages. Imagine, getting fan mail
from Superman.
Linda talked about lasting love and dedicated “From The Inside
Out” to all those couples who were still together after 20 or
more years. A hands up survey of the audience revealed that
there was a significant percentage in the audience.
Linda told us as a little girl she learned her music from an
older sister (a pianist), church (were as a little girl she sang
her first solo “Yes! Jesus Loves Me”), and the Grand old Opera
on TV (a family event). She related to us that her second solo (
I think she said she was 4 years old) in church was really
special. After much practice she waited for their Missionary
Baptist Church preacher to ask her to sing again. The moment
arrived and she went to the front of the church and sang “You
Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man”. Oops!! Can you just picture
her mama turning into a ghost and trying to disappear through a
crack in the floorboards!
Lind said she needed help to sing her Grammy winning song “Does
He Love You”. She called one Phyliss Webber to the stage. With
only minimal instructions Phyliss echoed Linda when cued to
sing. The crowd loved it.
The second half of the program entitled Lizzie LaRue was a WWII
“soap opera” with live and pre-recorded accompaniment, some
costumes, and some props and scenery. Lizzie has just begun her
career as a cabaret singer when she meets a soldier. They fall
in love but tragically he is shipping out the next day. What
follows is the story of a young woman determined to do her part
on the home front for her country and for the young soldier she
loved, letters from him of promises and love, and letters lost,
and of course, the reunion. From the album Young At Heart Lizzie
sings: “Come Rain Or Come Shine”, “But Not For Me”, ”Just In
Time”, “Paper Moon”, You Belong To Me”, “My Babe”, “If I Were A
Bell”, “Young At Heart”, and ended with “It’s A Good Day”. These
classic favorites done in a style that was uniquely Linda’s were
well received. The program got a warm Homestead standing
ovation.
Performances next season will be in the new South Dade Senior
High Auditorium. The 2008-2009 schedule will present: the Royal
Canadians, doing a Big Band Guy Lombardo New Year’s Eve Party;
Three Swingin’ Tenors, imitating some of our favorite post WWII
entertainers; a group of eight singers and dancers “Puttin’ On
The Hitz” of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s; and finally the Audubon
Quartet, a string group who will highlight music from “The Great
American Songbook”. Purchase season tickets before June 1 and
you will receive a bonus ticket for friends, family or
neighbors.
For information and directions, one may call (305) 235-8818 or
(305) 253-6620. More information on these shows, or to
purchasing tickets online, visit: www.homesteadconcerts.com |
