This
special page is for a few tributes to coincide with what would have been
Lena's 40th birthday.
| I am still missing Lena
a lot, and always will. She was a big part of my life from when
I was younger, and is still a big part now. It is nice to know that
so many people still think a lot of Lena, I get loads of emails
from fans in England and also abroad. It is sad to think that Lena
is no longer with us to sing for use and make us happy, but with
her music and videos, her memory will live on. This site is a tribute
and a dream of mine that I wanted to achieve so that her memory
would definitely live on! ~ Debra Baker, England. |
I’m honored to write this tribute
about my childhood idol, Lena Zavaroni.
One of the things that stood out about Lena for me personally, was
not only
her talent, but we were the same age and only a month apart.
My first introduction to Lena was at age 10 through an ad in an
American
teen magazine. Her name was lit up in lights and Lena, dressed in
a black
velvet dress, was lit up in neon. It was the headline that caught
my eye
“She went 9 years without a hit record.” I was intrigued.
I sought to find
out more about this girl the ad dubbed the “British Bombshell.”
I remember carrying the ad around in my pocket and showing it to
my school
friends until it became so crinkled I had to throw it away. Some
of us
searched the stores for the Ma! album, but couldn’t find it.
I didn’t find
it until a few months later. However, when I did find it, I played
it over
and over until scratch marks overwhelmed the vinyl. To this day,
it is still
one of my favorite albums.
I finally saw Lena two months later on the Carol Burnett show. She
wowed me!
What a personality! She was vivacious, precocious and that voice.
It was
hard to imagine that this tiny little girl had such a strong, powerful
voice
with tremendous range.
When I was a teenager, I tried to find other albums of Lena in the
U.S., but
didn’t have any luck. When I found out she died a few years
ago, I was
devastated. I felt like a part of my childhood had died as well.
I was sorry
to hear the torment she went through with her battle with Anorexia
Nervosa.
I know how isolated and lonely she must have felt.
Since her death, I’ve been able to find her other recordings.
I’ve collected
her CD’s, most of her albums and probably a hundred photos
of her. I also
have a new, sealed copy of the Ma! album that will remain sealed
as well as
a new copy of the ad I carried around when I was 10.
So, Lena, I write this tribute to you because you brought me much
happiness
throughout my life with your music, charm, grace and smile. So,
on Nov. 4th
, I will light a candle in your honor and wish you a Happy 40th
Birthday! On
Dec. 6th when I turn 40, I will raise my glass of champagne up above
for a
toast, not only to celebrate my birthday, but hoping that the angel
named
Lena has finally found peace and happiness in her eternal life.
You are
dearly missed! ~ Melissa Gundel Hall, USA.
|
Lena is missed. We are lucky to have Lena
brighten up our lives and always
remind us how special and vulnerable life is. Lena loved people
and it is
always revealed in her music or variety shows. She will always be
a special
person to those whom she touched. ~ Sid Kashyap, Canada.
|
I still cant believe Lena is not with us anymore.
I was 6 years old when i saw her first appearance on opportunity
knocks, and to this day i can remember being amazed at her voice
and charisma.I vividly remember how she would look in to the camera
and how she held her hand with her fingers spread wide apart. Thinking
of it now was like it was only yesterday.I supposed i dreamed of
being just like her.
I spent the next 31 years being one of her biggest fans. I have
so much memorabilia and treasure it all. I could never even throw
a newspaper away without cutting out the television guide if it
had her name on it. Not even now.
Losing Lena was like losing a part of myself she may not be with
us anymore but the memories we have of her will live forever.
Thank you to everyone who helps to keep Lena's memories alive
Happy Birthday Lena !!!
Jane Young , England.
|
| When I last went to Rothesay, I took a walk
up the hill to Ballochgoy and found the house where Lena lived.
Now it's all boarded up and overgrown, but this is the place where
Lena and her cousin Margaret would put on little shows on their
front porch, the street where she and Carla would walk to school,
the centre of the world for the little girl with the big, big voice
who seemed to have such a bright future ahead of her. This week,
that little girl would have been 40. When I was a child, I loved
her like an elder sister. When I was a teenager I wanted to marry
her. When she was ill I wanted to hug her. Now it's her birthday
and how I would love to send her a card and a present, but this
will have to do. Happy Birthday Lena, you will never be forgotten.
~ Paul Taylor, Scotland.
|
Although always having a powerful
performance, it wasn't until the
1980s that Lena became able to "sculpt" with her voice.
From then on,
she was able to sing almost in 3D; in light and shade, with power
with
tenderness, with drama with simplicity and always with sincerity.
She
was a true and rare, talented artist. She will always be appreciated,
loved and missed by the cognoscenti. Maybe one day the others will
catch up. ~ Peter, musician and fan,
England.
|
I would like to say how much Imiss you my
lovely little friend, no matter how many years go by Iwill always
miss your smile, your caring beautiful manner, Iwill always treasure
the good times we shared as friends, you may have left this world
with great sadness, but Iwill aways think of you wherever I go,
and in whatever I do, you will always be in my heart and never will
I forget you. ~ Steve Black, England.
|
Happy Birthday to Lena Zavaroni ~ 4th November
1963-1999
Dearly Loved and Missed by all who she Touched with her Music
God Bless you Darling Lena ~ Sam Greenhill, England. Lena
Zavaroni
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