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Ramona's Ramblings

Killing me softly

Ramona Jan
Posted 8/30/22

I’m listening to the ‘huz’ (that’s short for husband) as he rehearses a plentitude of cover songs. He just debuted as ‘singer of the greatest songs’ at The Old …

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Ramona's Ramblings

Killing me softly

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I’m listening to the ‘huz’ (that’s short for husband) as he rehearses a plentitude of cover songs. He just debuted as ‘singer of the greatest songs’ at The Old Foundation in Jeffersonville, but here’s what he doesn’t know…

What the ‘huz’ doesn’t know is that almost every song he sings brings forth a memory from my personal past in the music business; some tragic, some comic, all outright uncomfortable. Insane as it may seem, here are my true stories behind the songs he’s rehearsing right now: 

Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing:

Believe it or not, I once babysat a cat belonging to a successful record producer. 

The cat needed round-the-clock company, whenever the producer traveled. I ended up living, for extended periods of time, in what I considered the cat’s Lincoln Center apartment, complete with elevator, doorman, full-time maid and no complaints at all from me.

During this time, it was not unusual for me to speak (flirt) with Journey’s lead singer, Steve Perry (nice guy), Daryl Hall (handsome), Roger Daltry (more handsome) and many other rock stars of the time. 

One very early morning, the phone rang and, I, half-asleep picked it up. There was a man on the other end who said his name was David. Well, this record producer and I happened to have a mutual friend named David so in my dream delirium, I yelled, “David! Don’t call so early. I’m sleeping. Talk to you later!” And hung up.

Later on, the phone rang again and when I picked it up, “David” apologized profusely for the earlier call. That’s when I noticed he had a British accent, which ‘our’ David didn’t have; I asked, “Who is this?” 

“Oh, it’s David Bowie,” said Bowie. “I should have said so before.” 

“Oh,” I said. “I thought you were someone else.”

“That’s OK,” said Bowie, “I’ll not call that early ever again.” And he never did.

Bryan Adams’ 

Everything I do, I do it for you

Said record producer had a common-law wife who was doing too much of everything with another man, a touring musician. This led to a set-up between me and singer/songwriter, Bryan Adams.

Adams was in town with the touring musician. Record producer’s wife, therefore, arranged for me to interview Adams, but really only to get the dirt on her crush. While over dinner, stuffed with questions hardly prepared, Adams and I struck up a friendship. This was not part of the plan. Next thing, I was his invited guest backstage at Madison Square Garden where his girlfriend threw a jealous fit over my presence. I’ll say why in a future column. 

 

Tom Petty’s American Girl

There once was an American girl (me) about to go onstage at the Peppermint Lounge with her band when someone handed her a gun. Knowing nothing about guns, I thought it might be cool if I tied it to my waist during my set. And I did. After the performance, Tom Petty came backstage and with a crooked finger motioned me over. 

“Let’s see that gun,” he said adding, “Do you know this is a real gun? You could get arrested.”

“Oh,” I said disappointed that he wasn’t there to tell me how much he loved my show and, of course, ask me on a date. I quickly handed the gun, hot potato style, back to its owner. 

Unbeknownst to my husband, Andre Turan, memories of mine, probably best forgotten, are woefully recalled as he incessantly rehearses. 

You can catch Andre “killing me softly with his song[s]” (Roberta Flack reference, google it young’uns) at Creative Compound in Honesdale, the Neversink General Store, the Callicoon Farmer’s Market and more. Check it out at https://andreturan.wixsite.com/singer. Yup, it happened, a shameless plug for the ‘huz’. 

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