As I sit on my back porch after the obligatory Independence Day fireworks show, I remember this night six years ago. After returning from the explosive display at Elver Park, the girls quickly headed for bed. I was still wide awake and ended up turning on the TV to dull my senses enough to join them.
ABC's "Nightline" was repeating a show that had originally aired in March about a fairly obscure singer that had recently died of cancer. I still question why this was a story (was ABC tied in to future revenues of CD sales?), but I am so glad they did.
That night, I sat transfixed as I listened to the heavenly voice of Eva Cassidy. Why she wasn't a major star during her short life is largely due to inept management. Why she is a star today is due to masterful management.
For the uninitiated, Eva possessed one of the most incredible voices in rock I've ever heard. After watching that documentary, I fired up my computer and ordered the three CDs that were available on Amazon.com.
So did an amazing number of people. The March telecast apparently went relatively unnoticed. But in the week after the July 4th re-run, Eva's three CDs ended up ranking number 2, 7 and 9 on Amazon.com.
Whoa!
Of all the nights to advertise on Nightline, I'd think the Fourth would be pretty far down the list.
Obviously not. That night connected Eva to tens of thousands of people that would have never otherwise experienced her rare gift.
And, if you haven't yet heard her...you should treat yourself.
Hi Bill! I am thrilled, as a long time fan of yours, to know that you are among the thousands of people, from all over the world, who appreciate and love Eva Cassidy, and her soul touching voice! Just get on Google and you will find the awesome Eva Cassidy website,(Eva's cousin is the webmaster). Among many other things, it explains how Eva's story ended up on Nightline, plus everything you would want to know about Eva. She now has millions of fans from all over, but the strange and sad thing is, you never hear her on American radio. Hopefully, your article will help change that! Many thanks and regards, Dorothy B.
Posted by: dorothy brown | July 06, 2007 at 11:05