FROM THE VAULTS Episode 2

LIFE LESSONS WITH LORNA LUFT

Jared Kenwood and Lorna Luft

Lorna Luft’s Songs My Mother Taught Me

by Jared Kenwood

On March 19th, actress and singer Lorna Luft performed her solo concert for a sold out crowd at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. The show, Songs My Mother Taught Me is an autobiographical tribute, paying homage to Luft’s mother, the legendary Judy Garland. Garland whose career consisted of films, radio appearances, television shows, and numerous concerts, is most notably known for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of OZ. Nearly forty-five years following her death, Judy Garland is still known as one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. 

“People often ask me, “What is it like to be Judy Garland’s daughter?” Lorna Luft writes in her memoir, Me and My Shadows, “How do you answer a question like that? It’s hard being legends child. She’s everywhere I turn, like a shadow. It’s been wonderful, and terrible, and everything in between.” 

For years Lorna tried desperately to escape her past. But being Judy Garland’s daughter and the little sister of Liza Minnelli, it was very difficult. 

“I tried to run away from it all,” Lorna admits to her audience, “I dyed my hair purple, I sang rock and roll, and I spent way too many nights at studio 54. I did not want to be in anyone’s shadow. However, the further I ran the shadow was always there. Until one day I sat down and decided it’s time to make friends with the ghost.” 

The show is a celebration of song, dance, and personal anecdotes. Nearly twelve years ago, with the help of Barry Manilow and writers; Ken and Mitzie Welch, Songs My Mother Taught Me was created. Following the performance, Lorna brought me backstage for an interview and shared with me a little bit about the Preproduction of the act and how the songs she chose from her mother’s repertoire. 

“We went through my mother’s entire library,” Lorna recalled, “And we picked and chose and talked. It took six months that we really, really went through the library and with Ken and Mitzie directing it and writing every single word. It was put together like a theater piece.” 

 Lorna gives it her all to keep her mother’s legacy alive, belting out the Garland standards. Using a fascinating technique of projecting onto a screen, film and pictures are presented to the audience. There are even some moments in the show where Luft duets with Garland. It was very moving to watch Lorna sing along side of her mother. The final song of the show brought audiences and me to tears when Lorna and Judy performed a duet. Lorna sang a song called Shining Star, and her mother sung her signature tune Over the Rainbow. The song that is most identified with Judy Garland. 

“I want people to remember her musicianship,” Lorna tells me. “I want people to remember her as a performer and an actor and I want them to remember her work. I think that’s what gives people joy and that is what she wanted people to look at her for.”

Dedicated to theater arts and encouraging young performers she shares some of her advice for Broward College students, who plan on pursuing an acting and singing career. 

“If you want to go into this business, you have to learn to do it all. Don’t learn how to be vocal aerobics and stand on a stage and not do anything else but that. There is something in between the songs called dialogue and you have to be an actor and learn how to be choreographed.” 

Songs My Mother Taught Me will go on for several more performances this August. Unfortunately there are currently no plans for any future Florida engagements. Lorna joke with me, “Florida is a little hot down here.” 

A week following her concert, Lorna began treatment and surgery for breast cancer. On her Facebook page, her wall was flooded with words of support from her fans.  

Songs My Mother Taught Me is available on CD from First Night Records and Lorna’s Memoir, “Me and My Shadows” is available for purchase from Amazon.com. Special thanks to Lorna’s husband Colin Freeman for arranging this interview. 

Editor's note: This was Ms. Luft's final interview before she withdrew from public life to deal with her medical issues. We are grateful to TJGE Yahoo group member Jared Kenwood for bringing this exclusive interview to us.

And on behalf of all the members, in all the outlets of TJGE, 

we wish Lorna Luft a speedy recovery and a happy and healthy future.

LIZA MINNELLI I REMEMBER MAMA

Liza Minnelli on Mike Wallace's AT LARGE radio program, 1974.

SID LUFT AT LARGE 1974

JOE LUFT: I Remember Mama 1974 Interview

First in a series of five interviews utilizing outtakes from Mike Wallace's 60 Minutes profile of Judy Garland. Future weeks will feature interviews with Sid and Lorna Luft, Liza Minnelli, and Artie Shaw.

LOIS REEVES REMEMBERS JUDY GARLAND

Lois Reeves.

Lois Reeves (AKA Sandra Delores Reeves) Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, and member of the legendary "Girl Group" Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, opens up about her friendship with Judy Garland.

The women befriended each other after Judy and fiancé Mickey Deans caught the Vandellas act at the Copa,  and soon after began socializing together at various New York City hot spots.

Here is her interview with TJGE member, Amber Stankoff, on those heady times with Judy.

Lois Reeves: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the Great Judy Garland. There are not many entertainers that I have met that have left such a deep and lasting impression on me as Ms. Garland. 

She was a fantastic entertainer, mother, wife, daughter, and human being who did it all! 

Martha Reeves And The Vandellas circa 1968.

Amber Stankoff: How did you meet Judy Garland?

LR:While performing in the early 70's* at the world famous Copa Cabana in New York City. She and her husband at the time came to the show and asked to meet Martha Reeves and the Vandellas afterwards. She was quite impressed with our performance.

AS: When you met Judy Garland, what was she like and how did she treat you?

LR: She was extremely gracious and although she was by far more famous than we were she was warm, complementary and even invited us to come to a club she and her husband owned at the time called Mickeys after the show. We were living in New York at that time. We accepted the invitation and on several other occasions we visited the club after our initial meeting. While there she danced with us and introduced us to many of her friends.

Mickey Deans and Judy Garland, December, 1968.

AS: In your opinion, why do you think so many people loved Judy Garland? Do you think it has to do with how she treated people?

LR: Most definitely! She was approachable and she made you feel as though she had known you for years.

AS: In your opinion, do you think Judy Garland 'the person' appeared the same as Judy Garland 'the celebrity'?

LR: Yes! In my opinion she was one in the same! She was warm. easy to talk to and approachable. She made us feel special. We were amazed that she did not have a haughty spirit or act as though she was better than anyone around her. She was very impressed with Martha's talent and performance. The picture I forwarded you shows how warm she was. I will never forget her and how she made us feel. She made us feel like celebrities.

Mr and Mrs Mickey Deans, 1969.

AS: Did Judy Garland have any impact on you? If so, please explain.

LR: After meeting her it made me realize that entertaining is what I do it is not who I am. I am just like any other hard working person, trying to make it on this earth. She showed me that no one is better than the other person and there is no need to act differently or superior toward anyone. We are all "Stars" just doing different things. If I can make someone forget their troubles for an hour while enjoying our performances than I feel blessed. Ms. Garland made so many people forget their troubles and just get happy while she was on this earth and I am truly thankful that I had the opportunity to meet her and spend some time in her presence. 

The Reeves Sisters today.

Big thanks to Lois Reeves for sharing her memories with TJGE special correspondent Amber Stankoff.

We would like to gently correct two factual errors. Ms. Reeves spent time with Judy in late 1968, not the 70's, and The Deans' did not own a club called Mickey's. They brought Lois and her sisters to a club called Arthur that was owned by Sybil Burton and where Mickey Deans was employed as the manager (although it is highly possible that Deans told Ms. Reeves that he owned the club).

Please watch the video to learn more about Lois Reeves and her career as a Vandella as well as a solo artist.

JUDY. AUSTRALIA. 1964.