JUDY COLLINS IS OVER THE RAINBOW

Folk singer Judy Collins is optimistic about the next generation being able to do something the last two have failed at: "kicking these greedy capitalists out."

That's part of the message she hopes children can take away from the classic Judy Garland movie, "The Wizard of Oz," and from its signature song, "Over the Rainbow."

The song has particular resonance for Collins, whose parents were such big Judy Garland fans that they named their baby girl after her back in 1939 when she was born just a few months before "The Wizard of Oz" came out.

"Over the Rainbow" is now the title of a new picture book and three-song CD from Collins, one of a series of book-and-CD packages produced by folksinging legend Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary.

"The book was a real surprise," said Collins, who will sign copies of it at New College of Florida on Sunday afternoon, before a concert she'll give that evening in Clearwater. "It came out of the blue with a call from Peter Yarrow. He had a big hit book with 'Puff the Magic Dragon' and said to me, 'They gave me an imprint and I want to ask you to do the second book.'

"He did not know that I was born in 1939 and named after Judy Garland. I said, of course, I would love it. It's turned out to be an incredible experience and a huge success."

Although "Over the Rainbow" is one of Collins' personal favorites, she has rarely performed it and never recorded it.

Now, it's on both the CD associated with the book and on her most recent CD release, "Paradise."

"I think karma's interesting," she said. "It's my job now to be singing this. Seventy years ago, we were in the Depression and things are not looking so good right now. The movie came along and gave everyone hope. What better time to have 'The Wizard of Oz' and this story of Dorothy come back?"

Judy Collins will sign copies of "Over the Rainbow" at 1
p.m. Sunday at Mildred Sainer Music and Arts Pavilion at New College of
Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 388-2850. She also will perform at 7
p.m. Sunday at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. Tickets range from
$49-$65. www.rutheckerdhall.com.

Article by Susan L. Rife courtesy of the Herald-Tribune.