There are canaries, parrots and there are "SINGERS", Barbara Robison was a SINGER! the kind who reaches into her soul to emote for the feeling and life of the song. She also had the gift to rise to the occassion, to be fully in the moment. Much of her best work was done live and on stage.
In the L.A production of Hair the performers were allowed to improvise and deliver their own interpetation based on how they felt that night. Barbara best work may be her renditions of "Easy TO BE HARD" It was often ironic for her to be singing it to a full house in the Aquarius theatre when so mucj turmoil was going on in her own life.
Allan Brackett had a little converted garage where we used to party when John Merril lived there, It was a straight drive down Sunset from the Aquarius and some nights it was a flurry up and done Sunset first to do the show, and then do the recording studios. Barbara did alot of commercial work, from movie soundtracks to radio ads she was always ready, willing, able and in demand.There was always a new song writter wanting her to give their music a try. She would fall right into a song the way the writer intended and then do it again taking it to new places I saw more than one writer excitedly taking notes on new arrangments
One night while I was watching her son Scotty, she came home extra late. Her car had broke down and the kindly stranger who had stopped to "help" her, took her on a wild ride into the Valley and up a dirt road. This little woman actully convinced the guy "this isn't what you really want to do" She said it took awhile but he drove her home unharmed. I believe she was able to talk him out of it because she was sincere. She actually wanted him to do the right thing because it was the right thing to do. The next day she was totally calm as if nothing had happened.
I do wonder how Scotty is doing, as a mother Barbara would not win any mother of the year awards. Although I took care of Scott some of the time he had a regular sitter and because Barbara would sometimes take three weeks to pick him up again, Scott would cry and have to be carried in because he was afraid he would never see her again.
I intend to add more note about Barbara later, for now I would like to close by saying DAMN!, damnit, life is unfair Barbara Robison should have lived and shared her gifts many, many years longer. You will be missed and loved by many.
Barbara as a singer
Adventures with Jim
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