A "Va-J-J" With a Brain (Part 1)

(Me with my sweet friend, Merrill Osmond.  Sorry Merrill, for putting you on a post with the word "Va-J-J" on it...LOL!)

I may impersonate "Cher," but I have always admired the real "wise-crackin' dames" like Bette Midler,  the "broads" like Mae West and the strong women like Kate Hepburn.  At an early age, I felt the oppression of a male-dominated world.  It seemed like there was some sort of "cult" who believed that all dicks had brains and that a Va-J-J was merely storage space.   If I wanted to climb a career ladder, I had to make a choice:

"Do I want to sleep with men in order to control them, or do I want to outsmart them in order to obtain some control?"

I wasn't a bad looker in my youth and could have done well by the first route.  But, I just couldn't do it.  My 163 I.Q. was aching to outsmart the male-dominated music business. So, I decided to find a way to use my brains rather than my looks.  In hindsight, it would have been much easier to just sleep with 'em since their "cult" was adversely opposed to a Va-J-J with a brain.  Fame and fortune could have been mine by simply staying horizontal in a business meeting.  There were several filthy rich suitors.  Instead, I went for the poetic musician types, God love 'em!

In the late 1970's, I moved to L.A. with my first husband, Mark.  He had the most magnificent singing voice I had ever heard.  I decided to put my own career on hold while I used my brains to assist with his career.  After all, I was already sleeping with him. Once he was famous, I was IN!

Not only did Mark have a magnificent voice, but he was a male of the species.  I thought it would be an easier way to navigate through the "cult."  So, I styled this sweet, mid-Westerner from conservative "boy-next-door" to "smokin' hot rock star."   It was an easy makeover because he had the goods!

Playing the role of manager to an up-and-coming rock star was an interesting undertaking!  I was in my early twenties and had absolutely no experience in this sort of thing.  But, I had balls and a belief in Mark's undeniable talent.  Soon, Mark was playing in some of the more notable rock clubs like the Starwood.  I knew it would be just a matter of time before someone with the right connections would hear him and we'd be on our way.  I remember telling him that he should just walk into Capitol Records and start singing in the lobby.  If I had his instrument, that's exactly what I would have done.

After nearly five years of marriage, the role of "manager" began to take its toll on my inner artist.  I needed to take back that part of me which had gotten lost in Mark's shadow; even though it was a beautiful shadow indeed.  I went on the road singing in a top 40 band. Shortly thereafter, we were divorced and I was now faced with a new decision of how to outsmart the "cult."

Mark and I have remained close friends to this day.  In fact, he is now my best girlfriend. But, that's a different story and you can read about that on my other posts titled, "A Hard Rocked Life."  I'll be back with more on this one in a few days.






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