 |
| source |
Oh Linda Manning, you're a mystery. A few cute rockabilly tunes from her can be found on YouTube, but just two photos have turned up in my extensive Google Image Searching, and nary a clip from the Linda Manning Show which this obituary says she lead. What gives? Why didn't anyone preserve any more vestiges of Linda Manning? Oh well, her elusiveness kinda heightens her mystique.
I first stumbled upon her portrait many and many a year ago (in a kingdom by the sea)
and included it in this round-up of hillbilly fillies. Since then,
she's always been in the back of my mind when I am getting ready before
the mirror, because she is actually Perfection and if I could only have
one "look" for the rest of forever I would choose her exact hair &
makeup style, the end.
Behold: the 1960s country-singer kitsch is obvious, from her piled-high hair to that cool ruffled dress. Then there's just the right hint of dark glamour in her heavy cat-eye liner and long inky-black tresses.
Now, here's the only other picture I could find of Ms. Manning, but it doesn't disappoint:
 |
| source |
A big-haired country singer who can also bring the Liz Taylor Old Hollywood glam factor?!
Instant style icon status for Linda!
Here are my favorite songs of hers; she had a cute li'l voice, like a rockabilly Annette Funicello!
---------
From Birmingham, AL's own wiki site:
"Linda Elane Manning Grissom (born November 24, 1946 in Cullman; died December 18, 2005 in Cullman) was a country and pop singer.
Manning recorded a half-dozen tracks for Tennessee-based Doke and
Bulletin Records in the late 1950s and earned a spot as a featured
singer on WAPI-TV in Birmingham, and hosted her own radio program from Cullman. In 1964 she was featured alongside Lee Stover and Tony Bellus on Cincinnati, Ohio's WLW-TV music variety program "Jamboree".
She married baseball player, actor and minister Mel Novak in Birmingham in October 1968 and lived with him in Hollywood, California."
---------
Do you have a mysterious style icon who haunts ya? A long-forgotten girl in a vintage snapshot with the best outfit, or a two-bit movie extra who just had "It"? I think these shadowy almost-fell-through-the-cracks people are even more fascinating than the well-known stars, don't you?
She IS fabulous! You're so right! The 60s isn't usually my style decade of choice, but, heck, I'd forego that for an adorable look like hers!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about mysterious stars. There's one I found out about named Princess Kouka. She's a Sudanese princess that starred in a western movie, but I can only find about five pictures, and a second-long clip of her from the film. She's so beautiful, and I wish I knew more about her! Why would a Sudanese princess go to the west to be in a movie? How did she become so counter-cultural? So many questions!
Oh wow, Princess Kouka is stunning, and very mysterious!! How DID she get into films?! I bet there's a fascinating story behind her; hopefully someone will uncover it someday!
DeleteI always think lesser known people are more fascinating. And I think Linda is just beautiful! I love 50s and 60s fashion and makeup--her eye makeup is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a captivating mystery - she really does strike one as the type that would have oodles written about her, and yet so little is to be had. I will not soon forget her face, and will let you know at once if I ever come across my photos/info on this enchanting 1960s songstress.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
She's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteMy haunting is a song. The song I heard at Viva Las Vegas one year all us girls were strolling to it. Later Sean Young covered it. I can't seem to find the original or who played it. The song is called Wiggle Walk. I Love it.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I have a few mysterious songs where I can remember the tune, and maybe a snippet of the lyrics, but can NOT for the life of me track them down :( Very vexing!
DeleteShe's got such a characteristic face. Haunting, indeed!
ReplyDelete- Aleksandra
You look like you could be her lil sis! What a doll!
ReplyDeleteThis will make you happy, pic:
ReplyDeletehttp://tsutpen.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Lost%20Highway
OMFG, how did i never find this?? That's the most badass Linda Picture of all! Thanks!!!!
DeleteLinda was my best friend for years. Her voice evolved into a powerful, soulful sound...and she could make the piano sing backup for her. She remained exotic and glamorous, and, yes...even as her good friend she kept her mysteries. I miss her. She understood me.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing comment!! Thank you for sharing your memories of her! She has such a captivating look, like a country-western Liz Taylor; I'm sure she was just as dynamic to know as a person, too.
DeleteLinda was my favorite cousin. She gave me the gift of music and I treasured her. I have some photo's you might like. I have a few wedding photos of Linda and Mel. You can buy most of her songs on amazon. Her gold record was Shade tree mechanic. She was suppose to sing Harper Valley PTA but it was given to Riely as she was more well known. I stay in touch with her daughter and I bet I can get you a lot more photos. I have some of her as a child. So nice to know her talent is still appreciated.
ReplyDeleteOh, how wonderful to hear from another person who knew Linda personally!! I love her voice; it's got such character and her more rockabilly numbers are so sweet and catchy. I would love to see more photos of her; please feel free to email me at sweetheartoftherodeoblog (at) gmail (dot) com!
DeleteIs there any way to find the lyrics to Shade Tree Mechanic? My mom would sing it to me growing up and she passed in 2013. I have searched for it everywhere...
DeleteOh, I know what you mean! Are you familiar with that delicious contemporary tribute to the Nashville artists of the early '60s, "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar?" The Southern Gentlemen serve as the backing vocal group to all of the acts, which makes sense, as Sonny James is featured, however there's a decidedly un-gentleman among them. A plain-yet-lovely lady with reddish brown hair, pulled up and curled, dressed conservatively. She's uncredited, and I've never seen her in any other clip. However, it's clear she knows the material...sometimes, you can tell when a fill-in singer is used, and she ain't one. Who could she have been??
ReplyDeleteYour posts are wonderful!