12th July 1999
Just this moment I am sitting in a tiny cottage along the Northern California coast looking out at the Pacific Ocean-on a month-long songwriting retreat. Each day I am receiving gifts from the world-wide web even as I am spinning and weaving my small threads into the tapestry that is our precious Women’s Music. I wrap these messages around me like a velvet cloak as I venture into the cool silence.
From Tuckey in Maryland…
Well hello, Margie! Imagine my surprise and delight at finding your webpage! It was like happening on an old, dear friend during a long walk alone. Thanks for adding your presence to the cyber world. My small touch of subversiveness was to make Soon And Again the hold music on my office’s phone system! Hah!
(You Go, Tuckey! I’ve also heard many great tales about Naked Keys and the instrumental recordings of Kay Gardner and Mary Watkins.)
From Ayako in Nagoya, Japan…
Today I visited your beautiful website. I could find every lyrics of your songs. I already have almost every your CD or LP, but some of them are without insert card of lyrics. Finally I can understand all of your songs. Thank you very much. And I found many useful links. I can visit many web sites of Women’s Musicians and organizations. I hope Women’s Music is alive forever. (So do I, Ayako. Keeping the web free and open is essential. I am alarmed that already some search engines and directories, not content with advertising $$, are charging fees for website listings. If this trend continues, it will drastically alter the ability of independent artists to have a presence on the web.)
From Carol in Pennsylvania…
Thank you!! Coming out later in life, I wish I’d heard your music sooner. I needed you. I won’t let anyone else feel so alone when women’s music is out there if I can help it! (Yes, yes, yes! Pass it on. Give Women’s Music to your friends who haven’t yet heard it – cassette prices are dropping fast as CDs take over.)
From Dmytry in Blagoveshchensk, Russia…
Your albums is not present in our city. I have heard ‘Beautiful Soul/Tender Lady” on CD-collection Classical Erotica II (Rising Star Records, Inc.) and very wanted it to play for one person… Whether it is possible to receive the notes or MIDI file?
Beforehand to you is grateful.
(We sent him a complimentary Soon And Again CD which includes this performance. That this whole exchange is possible just undoes me!)
These are just two of many great notes I’ve received after my speech/performance at 25th National Women’s Music Festival in Muncie, IN. We had such a time, didn’t we, girls!
From Carollee and Donna in Ohio…
How great it was to listen to you speak and hear your music once again at The National Women’s Music Festival. Every time we see you perform it is like a personal concert, your connection with your audience is truly amazing.
(Not to be too dramatic here, but I think I have the best audiences in the world. And I have to say that the experience we had a National was a special thrill. Must have been the Indiana water. I can share my speech but you’ll have to imagine the music and the audience as we swooned and swayed and sang together. Hot stuff!)
From Tracy in Ohio…
My partner and I had the opportunity to hear you speak and sing at the National Women’s Music Festival this past weekend. It was truly a blessing. You have such a gift for relaying the true spirit of women’s music through your words and your piano. I am 31 years old and up until five years ago did not know this music or community existed. I will ever be grateful to my partner for opening me up to this beautiful world. Five years ago she took me to a concert with Cris and Tret and from that moment on my life was changed. It felt like a new world opening up to me. Then I happened to come across one of my partner’s tapes of yours (Another Place) and listened to it while I was cleaning out our garage. It was unbelievable. I had to stop what I was doing because the words you sang moved me to tears. I think I listened to that tape at least five times in a row and learned every word. What it made me feel was hopeful and to be honest a little unsatisfied with my life because I felt moved to do something more. To get involved with life and make it my responsibility to change my world around me.
(Thank you Tracy for articulating so clearly what Women’s Music is all about.)