Dan's Papers - May 9, 2008 - Linda Eder

She is considered one of the most important contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook. She has been featured in nearly every major newspaper and media outlet in the country and is a Broadway staple whose talent is in the ranks of the legendary. And she is a frequent habitué of the Hampton Classic Horse Show. And now, one of the greatest American singers of our time is coming to the Hamptons to perform at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (PAC) this May, and her name is Linda Eder. Eder has been associated with singers such as Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland and it's easy to see, or should we say hear, why. She has a voice of gold.

Born in Brainerd, Minnesota, Eder was like any other girl with big dreams of becoming a famous singer. At a very young age she looked for opportunities to show off her talent. And it was that talent and poise that launched her into the spotlight after fate sent show business executives out to find her. Eder auditioned for the hit television show "Star Search" when they went to her town in 1987. The show, much like today's "American Idol," sent out teams across the country to find America's next best talent and Linda Eder was it. "They just came to my town and I signed up and got in. A lot of it felt like fate," she said.

Once on "Star Search," she was able to show the world her talent, and also make a very important connection that would lead her to New York. "Through 'Star Search' I was able to meet Frank [Wildhorn]." Little did she know that at that time Wildhorn was in the process of bringing the legendary Broadway show, Jekyll & Hyde, to New York City. "We stayed in touch and he called me up to audition for the show," she said.

When she got the part, the rest has been history. Her performance on Broadway sent the small town girl to the biggest stage in the world and she ran with the ball full force. Broadway became such a big part of her life that Eder starred in over 900 performances of the Broadway hit Jekyll & Hyde with the music by Wildhorn.

Eder's experience on Broadway was so positively reviewed that she became a household name. The success of Jekyll & Hyde added to her success and because of it she has been able to translate her Broadway talent into other major career accomplishments. One such accomplishment has been the success of her recorded music albums. Her newest one is entitled "The Other Side Of Me." During her performance at PAC she will do old numbers as well as new ones, including songs from "The Other Side Of Me," which is a fabulous collection of American pop and country music and arrangements. According to Eder, each song was chosen because she had something to say to her listeners and has described her album as a lifetime in the making. She also has recorded several other albums including the famous "Gold" album. In 2002, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi skated to her track, "Gold," during the Olympics. Eder also performed her own solo concert on Broadway, and was the subject of a Bravo network profile. From her concert sales, her records continued to sell. She started to record in the early '90s with a total of seven successful albums produced between 1994 and 2004.

Today, Eder is still at the top of her game, always keeping her career in the spotlight. When success on Broadway turned her into a real star, and it became clear that her voice was not limited to the Broadway stage, she began touring at concert halls all over the United States. Eder now has a reputation for selling out tickets long in advance.

In a short interview, Eder came across as extremely down to earth, enjoying things that she enjoyed as a girl, including horseback riding. It is this passion that has drawn her out to the Hamptons for the renowned Hampton Classic horse show. "The Classic is fabulous and I love coming down for it in the summertime, " she said. "It's absolutely beautiful."

Eder is also the mother of an eight-year-old son and enjoys taking care of her house, which, she said, "makes me happy." Because of her popularity, the singer has been able to draw packed venues across the country, including every possible outlet on the East End, where fans come and listen to her sing. One such venue is New York's Carnegie Hall, which she sold out. But Eder is no diva flashing around town. "Sometimes I think that I'm too down to earth for what I do," she said. "Some people want me to be a diva, but I'm really not that at all. I'm a jeans and country kind of girl, but people never really think that when they see me performing on stage. It's the truth though."

On May 24, you'll be able to catch seeing Linda perform live on stage at PAC, which is expected to draw a full house for the concert. "I'm excited to do that performance, it is going to be a lot of fun," she said.