Linda Eder. Photo by Carolina Palmgren.
Linda Eder has been a recording artist since 1991 but she rose to fame in 1987 when she appeared on Star Search for 12 weeks straight. 14 solo albums and 12 musical recordings later, Linda Eder will be performing tonight at The Music Center at Strathmore as part of the BSO SuperPops series. Her program is entitled Songbirds and highlights some of the greatest songs sung by some of the greatest female pop singers. For you musical theatre geeks, you know Linda Eder from the pre- Broadway and Broadway engagements of Jekyll and Hyde where she stopped the show with the songs “Someone Like You” and “A New Life.” She has a long association with Composer Frank Wildhorn and recently released a cd of his songs entitled Now. When Linda Eder steps on stage there is an electricity that few singers have anymore. She always has a good repore with the audience and never fails to deliver in the vocal department. Not even power issues at her home could keep Linda Eder from doing this column and for that I am very appreciative. I am looking forward to seeing her concert at Strathmore this evening and you can look forward to seeing my review in the next day or so.
Growing up did you know that you would be in show business?
No, I dreamed secretly of being a singer but was too shy to sing in front of anyone so it seemed like a pipe dream.
You will be performing a concert entitled Songbirds which features songs from some of our greatest song stylists at Strathmore with the BSO SuperPops. What inspired you to put together this kind of concert?
I had so many requests over the years to sing the song “At Last” but I had never learned it. Then Etta James passed away and I thought it was time to sing the song. That led into doing a show with songs from some of our great iconic female singers.
You have a long association with composer Frank Wildhorn. What is your favorite Frank Wildhorn composition?
I think my favorite is”If I Had It My Way.” I think it is the perfect marriage of melody with Jack Murphy’s great lyric dedicated to the tragedy of 9/11. I get choked up every time I sing it.
Why do you think people are still fascinated with Judy Garland, Lena Horne and other singers from the past after all these years?
Who knows what makes a singer last in the minds and hearts of the public. It is a kind of magic that can’t be predicted and can’t really be created. If it could it would be happening all the time.
You are well known on Broadway for your star turn in Jekyll and Hyde. If presented with the chance to appear in a new Broadway musical would you be interested?
I have been tempted over the years, but ultimately I have made the choice not to go back to Broadway because I wanted to be home for my son. I didn’t want someone else raising him and missing those special years that go by so fast. I don’t regret my choice at all.
