Stan & Joe
In my travels, I never visited Annapolis, Maryland in the USA and it is highly unlikely that I will ever go there. But if I did I would head straight for Stan and Joe's Saloon on West Street. There I might order a nice cool American beer in a tall glass while waiting for their classic reuben sandwich with a garden salad.
However, that would not be my principal reason for venturing to Annapolis. I would be there to visit the parking lot that is right behind Stan & Joe's place. Overlooking that unexceptional car park is a rather special mural. It celebrates the life of one Eva Cassidy (1963-1996). She was born and raised in Maryland and that's where she died so tragically young.
Fortunately, today we have access to something quite magical on the internet - Google Streetview - and by using that facility I was able to look into the parking lot in order to catch a glimpse of Eva Cassidy's mural. Here it is:-
She had such a divine voice. Her imperfections made her delivery perfect. Three British radio presenters - Terry Wogan, Paul Jones and Mike Harding played a big part in bringing this Maryland songstress to the attention of the world and they were right to do so. What a crime it would have been if she had vanished into obscurity.
In recent days, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" had been playing in my mind over and over with lyrics by a dreamy fellow called Yip Harburg. However, in my humble opinion, nobody ever sang that song as well as Eva Cassidy did it. She owned the song and imbued it with a sense of longing that is in every human heart. Please listen...
I don't know that I've ever heard of her. Pretty sure I've never heard that version of the song. After reading a bit about her, I feel more people should have known her and who she was. What a tragically short life. You might want to check your dates on that.
ReplyDeleteAnother incredibly sad story.
Thank you Mary. I have corrected the date.
DeleteEva had a hauntingly beautiful voice. Fields of Gold is another favourite of mine. I wonder if she achieved fame during her lifetime?
ReplyDeleteShe experienced very little fame in her lifetime but some audiences knew that they had found gold.
DeleteI live a little under a three hour drive from Annapolis. It is a beautiful little city on the Chesapeake Bay. I absolutely love Eva Cassidy, and I love her version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as well as "Fields of Gold." She died way too young.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can visit Stan and Joe's Saloon for me Michael.
DeleteBeautiful, thank you for posting the video, I was not aware of Eva or her stunning voice. How tragic to lose such a talented young person.
ReplyDeleteSad that this mural is almost hidden in the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteEven though I am not keen on the arrangement, what a pure voice she has, and I'd never heard of her.
ReplyDeleteI started to listen but couldn't. I really don't like songs that are draaaaagged out so slooooowly. My mind keeps skipping ahead to the next word the next line.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I don't know Eva Cassidy at all, but prompted by your post I read about her on Wikipedia. It says she was "virtually unknown outside her native Washington, D.C. area at the time of her death from melanoma at the age of 33." Afterwards the BBC radio hosts you mentioned brought her music to the attention of UK listeners, and apparently she had hit record and a following here in the UK ever since. It's kind of like Rodriguez in South Africa (see the movie "Searching for Sugar Man"). I suspect she's still not widely known in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you have mentioned Eva Cassidy on your blog before, and I am equally sure that your blog was the first (and so far only) place I have ever come across her name.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the story with that mural is; who painted it? Why there and not somewhere more promintent?
Annapolis is about 45 minutes drive from me. Let me know when you are planning the trip.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Annapolis; it has a quaint waterfront.
ReplyDeleteEva Cassidy is one of my all-time favorite singers. Gone too soon.
I hadn't heard of her. I always think of Judy Garland when I hear that song.
ReplyDeleteEva made an impact in her short life if they have a mural up of her.
I live just south of Annapolis by the Chesapeake Bay. It is the capital of Maryland. Worked as a legislative assistant in the state legislature for four years back in the late1980s/early 1990s.
ReplyDeleteEva Cassidy is among my favourite singers. Gone far too soon. Have all her CDs (which tells you that I've been listening to her music for a long time--well before the digital age of streaming music).
She had an amazing voice!
ReplyDeleteNot someone i have heard of before. I'm thinking of a pilgrimage to Lemmy Kilmister's statue, that's more my taste and it's nit as far to travel.
ReplyDelete