Dear Editor:
Just discovered your Lina Romay
web site in the new issue of CLASSIC IMAGES!
I was just out of high school in
the early 40s when the Latin music craze started to peak. I was
a big fan of Cugat's, thanks to his weekly radio show.
When the Cugat orchestra was
booked into the Chase Club at the Chase Hotel in St. Louis, I double-dated with some classmates to go to my first
night club. (Yes, we ordered tuna fish salad sandwiches and
cokes). Was mesmerized by the Cugat band. The star floor show
attraction was Carmen Castillo (?), Cugie's then wife. However,
from the very beginning of the evening, I had my eye on Cugie's band
singer, who just sat with the orchestra beating time to the music.
She looked oh, so bored. However, when it was time for her to
sing, she jumped up in a flash and turned it on!!!!! I
couldn't take my eyes off her during the whole evening.
I moved to Santa Monica, Calif. in Dec. 4l, and went to every Cugat appearance
in the area--even to a prom at UCLA
where he played (but without Lina, as I recall)...
In the 80s, I went to a jazz club
on Vine Street in Hollywood to hear singer Ruth Olay, who had become a
friend. Attended many of her shows, and she always made a point
of alerting me to any celebrity in the audience. One night at
the Vine Street Bar & Grill, she mentioned that Lina Romay was in
the room. Did I know her? YIKES. Ruth said why
don't I go over and tell her I was a long time fan--that she would
love it. So, between sets I went over to her booth where she was
deeply involved in a conversation with her date (?). I
mumbled something about how I always thought she was swell.
She was gracious. The encounter was brief, but it was MY
encounter....
The next time I saw Ruth
Olay, Ruth gave me a Christmas card to her from Lina. Ruth
said she thought that I should have it. And I do.
Conrad J. Doerr
June 29, 2007
