It's a tough month for his divas

My mother would probably blame the whole thing on Dinah Shore.
Back about the time I was 7 years old, I had a crush on the singer who hosted a Sunday night variety show on television. Dinah ended each show by urging us to “see the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet” and throwing a kiss to the camera.
It was a joke at our house that I seemed to believe the kiss was intended for me.
That’s probably where my fondness for female singers comes from. It lay dormant for years, but from my teens onward I’ve had a tendency to develop strong connections as a fan of some diva or another.
(The term “diva” gets tossed around casually these days. I’m using it here without any connotation that a singer is imperious or demanding, but simply that she’s at the pinnacle of her art.)
In my case, one diva led me to another and another.
The rhythm and blues queen Aretha Franklin led me to jazz singer Nina Simone, and Nina Simone led me further back into the history of jazz to the great Billie Holiday.
Though my knowledge of jazz back in my college days was spotty at best, I knew the words to a dozen Billie Holiday numbers and sang along with the LPs I’d managed to find in bargain bins and inner-city record stores.
But this has been a tough month for my divas.
A few weeks ago, Cesaria Evora died.
Never heard of her? Neither have most Americans.
But she had a huge following internationally.
My South African friend Gyles introduced me to her music about three years ago, and I’ve been a devoted fan of the Cape Verdean singer ever since. Cesaria was known as “la diva aux pieds nus,” which translates as “the diva with bare feet.”
She grew up impoverished and often sang in bars in Cape Verde for drinks or tips. Her specialty was a music called “morna,” which is a cousin to the blues.
Somehow, she found an audience, first in France, then all over the world. All over, that is, except the U.S., where you would have been unlikely to have encountered her music.
And now, Etta James is failing.
The blues singer, best known for “At Last,” is alive as I write this, but she may be dead before these words make their way into print.
I’d heard her in her prime when she posted some hits on the charts in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until about 15 years ago that I reconnected with her music. My family will attest that they’ve had to listen to plenty of Etta. That includes multiple playings of “Blind Girl” on a single trip to the ballpark, further proof of their infinite patience with me.
But while Etta’s failing and Cesaria’s gone, some of my divas are still in great shape.
Jazz pianist/singer Diana Krall is doing fine.
European pop star Katie Melua, who captured my attention the very first time I heard “Nine Million Bicycles,” is a youngster in her 20s.
Canadian country singer k.d. lang is still belting out the tunes.
And Adele simply rocks.
They’ll still be in my CD changer and on my iPod.
Dinah Shore would be proud.[[In-content Ad]]