Sad to hear of the passing of First Lady Betty Ford - a champion for real women and spokesperson for real women's lives. I have just uploaded a photo of Betty Ford and others onstage for an ERA rally at which I was singing. Just click on my photo gallery and you'll see it. I believe it was taken in 1982, and I'm afraid I no longer know the photographer. Behind me was standing Lady Bird Johnson.....next to Betty Ford. They came together to support women's rights - still unfinished business! Enjoy the photos - and see who else you might recognize!
Enjoyed the Starbucks performance with friends-fans-family-former students-neighbors all in attendance....one young man appeared to be immersed in his "Goosebumps" book although tapping his foot with the beats, and came up afterwards to tell me I was "the most awesome singer he had ever heard"! Don't let appearances fool you....I started the evening with "Satisfied Mind" and got lots of nods and singing along on that one....next evening there is Aug. 6, looking forward!
Not one to enter song contests -- but this one, the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest, Midwest-based and with a track record, seemed to have integrity. I entered a "Midwest" song, Cuyahoga River, about the time in 1970 that the Cuyahoga caught fire from pollution, and the song was awarded an Honorable Mention in this year's contest! I'm so glad this song has found resonance in the hearts of the Midwesterners who run this contest....and hope that it, like Randy Newman's song on the same subject, might have made some small difference in the river cleanup efforts. Thanks to all! (You can purchase a download of it here at the website and at ITunes -- and everywhere else these days!)
Spirit were soaring despite worrisome bills at the Heartland Cafe benefit last night. One Chicago alderperson and the current City Clerk were in evidence along with lots and lots of Plain Folks. It was a pleasure to add my songs to the mix. I cracked out the harmonica, autoharp, penny whistle and the good ole Seagull guitar of course. Much revelry and enthusiasm! At the end, Katy Hogan singing Imagine, in true torch style, on stage. We raise our glasses to the whole crew at Heartland and wish them 35 more years!!