Album Notes

I first heard Anita in 1957 when I was in high school. Her first album for Verve, which was called Anita - I was impacted by her sound and bought every album I could find of hers. I met anita in 1960 at the Showboat Lounge in Philadelphia; I told her I was studying voice and she asked me that very evening to get up and sing a song for her. I did the tune, Just in Time, which was a Broadway hit at that time and she heard something in my sound that she liked and she encouraged me to quit vocal studies and just get out there and sing. I was with her in NY and spent a lot of time with her and with her drummer, John Poole. I was then drafted into the Armed Forces and we corresponded for 3 years. When I left the military, I saw her in New York and Philadelphia and while I was in the military I spent time with her in Seattle and San Francisco. I then moved to Manhattan in 1970 and saw her many times in NYC during the 10 years I was there and she always invited me up to sing. Over the years, she gave me tips on singing and developing a style. In 1980, she convinced me to move to Los Angeles. I lived with her in N. Hollywood. Up until the time her book was published, we lived together and then she moved. I got her into the Vine Street Bar and Grill. While in L.A., she spent time with me in my apartment many times. In 1994 I moved to Boston and we kept in touch via phone and letters. Over the years, my career has grown and I have been singing professionaly since I was 20.

The musicians on this CD are some of the finest anywhere. I met Bo and Bill Winiker when I moved to Boston and they suggested doing this CD together.

I hope you like my tribute to Anita!

Joe Sardaro