LINDA REGAN

The story is a timeless one, about the little girl who grows up and travels around the world, only to come back home with a finely-hewn sense of appreciation for the little things that spur us on from childhood. Linda Regan grew up in the wide expanses of Sacramento, with grassy plains and the Sierra Foothills as her first stage.

The voice is a reflex, honed initially by a Barbara Streisand fascination and a childhood spent in rapt wonder at the alter of her parents’ record collection. Absorbing the concepts of rhythm, style, passion, and vocal expression from the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Eydie Gorme, Perry Como and Andy Williams. At first, immersing herself in the idiom of truly interpretive singers; then later, Nancy Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter and Carole King – learning from each what makes a merely distinctive entertainer into an indelible one.

After winning the Miss Sacramento Pageant at age seventeen, Linda began a four–year association with the Miller’s Outpost retail chain. Jetting back and forth to Los Angeles to do print ads, commercial jingles and voice-over work for their ad campaigns, even while tackling five shows a day at Marriott’s Great America, six days a week in San Jose. From there came the biggest step yet in Linda’s career as a performer – becoming one of Dean Martin’s Golddiggers in Las Vegas as well as performing on his TV specials. Opening for his shows twenty weeks a year and performing in side engagements where the Golddiggers would be featured with entertainers such as Bob Hope and Wayne Newton – just to name a few. You might have even read about Linda in the book, ok "Backstage At The Dean Martin Show" written by Dean Martin’s then musical director, Lee Hale.

After three years with the Goddiggers, Linda took some time off and crafted her own nightclub act, wowing audiences from Los Angeles to Monrovia Africa and countless points in–between, with the spotlight on her as a solo performer and the added freedom to experiment artistically. She returned in triumph to Las Vegas, clad in a Bob Mackie gown to win the coveted role of "Miss City Lights" at the Flamingo Hilton. From there she embarked on a several year stint as a cutting-edge cabaret performer at the Pink Giraffe Club in Hong Kong – breaking new ground both musically and visually (thanks to her friendship with the innovative designer Susannah To!) and paving the way toward her return to America. Three more years with the Golddiggers led to Linda’s first album release in 1993 "No Boundaries", which featured what would become the theme song for the Sacramento AIDS foundation, "Let The Miracles Begin", music and lyrics by Linda.

The success of this song led Linda to delve further into the world of songwriting. Linda ultimately ended up in the song writing capital of the world, Nashville, TN, where she embarked on an unparalleled period of creative growth. Working with some of the city’s best songwriters and artists (such as Lee Greenwood) she began to craft a new onstage persona which now included a pop sound. Freed from the conventions of Las Vegas and traditional cabaret by the trailblazing steps of David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Sting and Sade, Linda began the creation of her new incarnation and album, both called "Cinematique". Still finding time to co-produce and create "Les Femmes Qui Rock" a women’s rock collective that produced several benefit shows, a compilation CD and a weekly three band series that ran for two years.

In the new millennium, Linda found herself in a transitional state once again – which brought her back to her roots – where it all began for her – torch ballads, big band classics and jazz standards. And now, with benefit of time and experience – Linda has gained a deeper resonance. The new album, "Something So Familiar" is abundant with timeless standards where Linda first found her calling. Even though the words of the standards are the same as when Linda first sang them, the blood, breath and the voice have been around the world and seen it all. In song, image or sheer power of will, such is the path of Linda Regan, shaking it down, serving it up and giving it all on stage – around the world, and in our lives.