No question, when Clay sings high and long,we all get tinges!

But, in my case, it brought back so many wonderful memories -- memories that started 62 years ago! Hard to imagine, isn't it?

As many of you already know, I had the very first "home recording unit" given to me at my College graduation by my parents. I will quickly remind you that this was a small "suitcase" run by electricity. One used these smaller than old 45's white paper wax discs, and while using a small microphone that came with it, one had to remove the wax at the same time.

I kept them all! Packed them and all of my Opera and Musical Comedy Scores and other valuable disks very carefully moving from Mass. to AZ. In 1992. I carefully put them together at the bottom of a bookcase, and was warned not to touch them.

A few years ago, a large heavy disk player for ALL SIZES was thrown away at a Swap Meet and a friend carried it into my home. I had a vinyl quality disk (72 rpm) and it worked. My son brought a gizmo, told me to bring out - carefully - these disks, and one by one we played it on this multi record player. Many smaller disks were destroyed, but some did survive. It took all day, and we selected 16 different ones and my son ever since has been trying to re-master to get as best a quality as he can from recorded music of yesteryear for a CD.

When I listened, memories flooded back. I recall so clearly hearing "Rudolpho" from "La Boheme" sing his area with high sustained notes that thrilled me to the core. The Three Tenors a few years ago sang the main area from "TRUANDO" and how could one not be thrilled. The main aria from Madam Butterfly still gets to me every time. But performing in quartets and the famous sextet is still ringing in my ears and no -- none of that ever was recorded by me. I guess having the highest voice made each event more exciting for me.

These long sustained high notes was just part of my life and when I heard a young man sing in his own style using this technique with proper breath control, I was thrilled once more -- only in this lifetime.

I heard the first draft of "my" CD and since it contains other musical gems (to be told at another time) I was at first surprised that it was me. Thankfully, after my Senior Recital done in April, 1947, I and my special accompanist went to a "professional" studio and I did it all over again, singing in a large room with one Mic and a piano. Behind the glass were two men: one who told me to sing the next song, and the other removing wax was from a Vinyl 72 disk. It was all done live - ONE TAKE! That was in May just before auditioning in Guiliard for a Masters in Opera.

GLORY NOTES! They usually are the ending surprise for the audience and often a dread for the performer. Clay singing Bridge Over Troubled Waters - not once but twice was the icing on the cake! He did it so effortlessly and the tone was beautiful - not "fake"!

BUT! All of us who performed our best in front of audiences don't ALWAYS have success. Do you have the video of Clay singing: "All is Well" during the first concert of that tour? Whoops!

My heart fell -- since I will tell you it happened to me. But HE got a second chance, night after night - even when he was not well --he was able to perform. He is such a natural.

I "lost" it twice. Imagine, I cannot tell you how many performances I had under my belt and how often I reached my E about high C without trouble --- in different places and different shows. But this sticks in my craw.

The first time, and I can still feel the drop in my heartbeat -- was singing in a show as part of The American Theatre Wing concert in New York. I do not remember what I sang (good thing), but what I do remember is I cracked on that high note I had sung for years - perfectly - and no --- no second chances that day.

The second time was even a worse experience. My family and I took a week's vacation at one of the Great Hotel Resorts in the Catskills. Buddy Hacket was there for the whole season and I guess every week they had guests perform. Buddy was NOT a very compassionate person, and would make fun of everyone who got up to perform. My first selection was the Main Aria from Gian-Carlo Minotti's TELEPHONE. I used to use as a prop (remember this is the late 70's) a "red" toy telephone. Naturally, before I even started, he had a few things to say about my (by now) precious prop. I did okay ending with my High "C" very well.

Now, GOD only knows why I chose "UN BEL DI" from Madame Butterfly. I never was IN that opera which is for a lyric soprano not a coloratura, but I had just done a scene in NYC and it was still in my mind. Buddy sorta said something not so nice (especially since I was always so short even with High Platform Shoes) and although I am not making excuses, it effected me. I LOVED that Aria since it is filled with drama, and I enjoyed "acting" almost as much as singing. It all went well. I suddenly looked at Hackett near the end, and "NOTHING" came out for my last note!

Think that was bad? NOPE! I found out that the front table had the producers of the TV Show "SHOW OF SHOWS! I ran away and hid for two days!

If you watch Clay sing "All is Well: notice his concentration. I admire him more than I can say.

Not that I didn't have my glorious moments and fabulous notices about the way I handled high sustained notes, but isn't it amazing that those two isolated events still give me goose pimples.

Just thought you all should know that GLORY NOTES were invented by Puccini and Mozart, etc., but Clay Aiken invented current songs as exciting to hear as those fabulous writers of music - especially when sung as it was written.

Yes, I will admit the popular songs of MY Day had many innovated parts as I used my coloratura ability and high notes to enhance them. Sorry, none of those were ever taped. But they are still in my head. Being able to sing and although I rarely noticed the audience, it was evident it was enjoyed. Isn't it wonderful that we now have the ability to see and hear Clay through today's electronics. I am not discounting the others who thrill me, but my computer is called: "THE HOUSE OF CLAY"!

Thanks for sharing my memories -- I am so lucky I can hear them in my head, but no longer able to sing them, which is OKAY! My memories sustain me.

Thanks for reading, my friends --- Marian