Olivia Newton John

[bloke]

I was called to back her up in a full symphony orchestra concert several years ago.

She was still very beautiful (I remember her appearing just as in this particular picture that I found), still sang absolutely as well as ever, and sang in all of her original keys. I believe she really liked country music the best, as her first L.P. hinted at that and - at the show - did a fairly lengthy (no orchestra) country "mini-set".

Of course, I didn't (as I never do) go up to her and ask for a picture or anything, and never spoke a word to/with her.
Having heard/played-behind the Canadian Brass a few times over the years (and even having been a close friend of Ryan Anthony, and even having met Charlie's sister - ironically - when playing a brass quintet gig), I never actually spoke a word to Charlie Daellenbach until he needed to call me about something...I just don't ever bother celebrities - or even "semi-celebrities".
I did - though sit out in the hall and listen to her and her rhythm section/back-up singers practice their country set (during our lunch break).
She was worth hearing for as many rehearsals and run-throughs as might be done. ...nothing piped in through the speakers, no auto-tune, just artistry.

At that time she was already fighting cancer (but no outward signs of it at all), though anyone with any sort of cancer (or serious illness, or any illness) knows what a struggle it is to get up in the morning and just "do", MUCH LESS (truly) sparkle, as did she.

[prairieboy1]

She was an angel, and one of the few celebrities that you could support without hesitation.

I think my next two on that list are Terry Crews and Alison Krauss. (i know, couldn't be more different people,. LOL)

As for Chuck Daellenbach, the first time I played backup for him I did talk to him, and told him that his playing inspired me when I was in High school and College, and the sound of his playing in the CB became my model of how a tuba should sound in a small chamber group (one of the reasons I was in my 40's before I owned anything smaller than a CC tuba)

[bort2.0]

I saw this story today and thought, Hrmm, was she related to the tomato sauce guy?

I'm from the wrong generation

I think there will be a LOT of celebrity deaths soon enough, for which it'll mean a LOT to some folks, and for younger generations, a thought of "that's sad. Wait, who was that?"

And speaking of Paul Newman, I didn't know he was dead either. Let alone, died 14 years ago.

[ken herrick]

That makes two Aussie female singers to die in the past few days; Judith Durham of the Seekers being the other. Both were great singers who didn't need fakery to produce the goods.

[bloke]

I'm from the wrong generation

me too.

This is completely off topic, but the ideal time to have been born in this country would’ve been roughly around 1936, for so very many reasons.

[Three Valves]

I never saw Olivia but I did accidently see some acts that many (including myself some decades ago) tought cheesy.

Tom Jones, Barry Manilow and Celine Dion.

Cheesy?? Maybe. Pros?? DEFINATELY!!

Sounds as if Olivia was too.

[LeMark]

She was an angel, and one of the few celebrities that you could support without hesitation.

I think my next two on that list are Terry Crews and Alison Krauss. (i know, couldn't be more different people,. LOL)

Dang it, I left a legend off my list. Dolly Parton. Who has ever said anything bad about her?

[bloke]

Two or three times over the years, I have seen Dolly Parton on stage with two or three others whereby one of the others may grab a microphone and make a political ass of themselves. Each time, I have noticed that she looked away and stepped away.

[bloke]

ALMOST off-topic, but this picture (from SEVERAL years ago) came up in my social media history, today...

It's my granddaughter (now: in the 9th grade) getting ready for a dress rehearsal for an elementary school production of "Grease".

(This is NOT the horn player...This is her older sister - the story-writer and visual art one; she's actually been hired - this fall - to work after school at an art school for children.)

[iiipopes]

ON-J's breakout American hit, "Let me be There" came out about the time my voice broke. I was in the car with Mom running errands and the song came on the radio. Sitting in the back seat, I sang along with the bass part with my newly-found low notes. Mom looked in the rear-view mirror at me with quite an expression on her face, which when I became a parent I recognized - yes, my son is growing up. And yes, I had a crush on ON-J as did many.