Please tell me you remember Evie. If you've been a Christian for any length of time (and are older than 32 or so) you will know that she was an icon. The Sandi Patti of the 70's, if you will.
(I say "over 32" since a good friend of that age, who will remain nameless, had no idea who she was when she saw the posters up everywhere. It's times like these when our generation gap shines through!)
Our family just had the absolute joy of seeing Evie in a free concert at our old church last night.
Let me just say, it was such a real blessing.
Evie first came on the Christian music scene when contemporary Christian music was in its infancy. She was a fresh-faced teen and had such a spirit of joy about her.
She still does.
I remember seeing her at a contemporary Christian festival when I was about 15 or so here in the Northwest. In fact, one of the images that stayed in my head all these years was Evie and a maybe 17 year old Amy Grant standing next to each other after the concert, talking with the crowd all around them from the back of a truck! They were both so young, and Amy had just made her first successful Christian album, so it was exciting to see them together like that.
So...back to last night's concert... It was a Christmas concert, so of course she sang her famous "Come on Ring Those Bells" ...but many of her old classic songs that I thought I had forgotten. Such a flood of memories!
Do you remember the song, "Special Delivery"? It nearly brought tears to my eyes to hear it again after all these years...and sung by her in person.
But more than the memories it brought back, I felt so blessed by her genuine sweet spirit. I also came away with a renewed excitement about celebrating Christmas. For those of us who know the Savior, it's all the more reason to be excited about celebrating His birth!
My sister in law, who was a big Evie fan, sat with us and then later we all waited among the throngs of people to get a chance to speak with her and get a little autograph. It took awhile because she was so gracious with everyone and friendly. The gal ahead of us said she remembered all the lyrics to a song that she didn't sing that night, and the two of them started singing together...the rest of us all around joining in.
She also had a surprisingly great sense of humor! You just can't help but love her.
My husband took a picture of my girls, sis in law and myself with Evie...but for now, I'll just show Evie and myself. But the girls- especially my four year old cherub- loved her! A new fan was born!
And see those dimples? Just as cute as ever!
If only we could buy her greatest hits on CD- or even tape.... but they are out of circulation!
A woman in line had an old, old record she brought up to have her sign...and I recognized the cover! I have it! It was mine as a young teen! Somewhere at my mom's house it hides, stored away....but I have it! (Now, if only I could find a record player...)
Anyway, I just had to share this with you all! Can you tell I really, really was excited about this concert?
So..."Come on, ring those bells...light the Christmas tree,
Jesus is the King, born for you and me.
Come on, ring those bells, everybody sing
Jesus, we remember it's YOUR birthday!"
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25 comments:
Wow. I was sitting heere racking my brain until you mentioned being over 32, that explains it. I know of Amy Grant but never heard of Evie. That is so cool that you got to do that (and I do have old record albums and a wonderful old-tie radio style record player that I got as a birthday present this year. :)) My kids LOVE when I put on records for them (they are not to touch my collection.)
How fun. I saw her when she went on "tour" with Rebecca St. James during her S.H.E event. It was very cool. I have to admit that I never even knew who Evie was before that. I'm 34 but been a believer for 10 years.
I remember Evie!!
I can't believe she hasn't cut anything since the 70's???
:-D
I am SOOOO jealous! I didn't know Evie was doing concerts. The very first record of my own that I ever bought, when I was 14 or 15, was an Evie album.
Lucky you!
And great photos!
I totally remember Evie. We had all of her albums, I can't even imagine where they are now.
Didn't she have a song that said something like "I'm only 4'11'' but I'm going to heaven"? I don't know how I remember that.
Glad y'all had such a great time!
I remember! Great opportunity to hear her. :>)
Glad you had fun. Your smile reflects your joy!
:)
I'm sorry but I have to say that I don't remember her... never heard of her until just now- Is that bad??? (Maybe it's just because I'm under that magic age of 32?)Anyway, sounds like y'all had a great evening- great pictures!
Jennifer R.
There are some records of yours in a case & I have put them out for you a couple of times. I'll look in there & see if Evie's record is in there, but if not, Im sure it is probably here somewhere. If I find it you can play it on my record player & if you have a new tape, we can tape it.
ruth
YAY! I am so glad some of you remember her so well! I love that! :D
(and Miss. Girl and Heather, I totally forgive you!)
Ginger, I didn't know she still gave concerts either...think she's just starting to do that again. She told us she was excited to back in the NW since she hadn't been here in 26 years!
Oh, and Mom, I had to smile...I knew you'd reply with possible places that Evie record might be! :)
I'm way over 32 but I don't remember Evie! lol Maybe she was just popular in the States? But then we never listened to Christian music...mom always had country on...so that could be another reason I've never heard of her! Anyway, it does sound like you had a wonderful time!!
It was right where I thought it would be,in the record carrier.
It is titled "A Little Song Of Joy For My Little Friends" dated 1979 & it pictures Evie seated on the grass surounded by a small group of children.
ruth
How fun! I love Christmas concerts. What a great time you had! Blessings!
It's pretty obvious you enjoyed every moment of this, Tammy. I've never heard of her but you're definitely a huge fan. You know what? I'll bet you could find a record player on eBay. You might even find some of her out of print music. On two different occasions I found a CD by someone I couldn't find anywhere else.
And I love the way your old church is decorated. It's so pretty.
Kristen, who just turned 32, used to sing her songs in church when she was a little girl. I LOVE Evie and am so glad to know she's still singing - and as cute as ever, though a bit more of her than before, as with the rest of us! At least me. I still have some of her records and tapes - love Come on Ring those Bells. Love it! Thanks for the good memories. Wish I could hear her in person.
Oh, my word, your mom just inspired me to go down to the basement, dig under the stuff, and find my box of RECORDS. There it was - the same one you have. Kristen used to sing Tree Song especially. I also unearthed the Danny Gaither albums, which she just loved - and all of the Gaither children's albums, the Music Machine, Bullfrogs and Butterflies. . . What happy memories! I just have to get them put on CDs somehow. Or find a good old record player - mine doesn't work that well any more. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!
I remember Evie. We were saved in 1980 so she was still around then. How fun that you got to meet her and have your pic taken!
i'm above that magic age but i don't remember evie. i know amy grant though. glad you and your family had fun. =)
Um, I don't know who she is....
Greatly enjoyed your blog. I have never heard of Evie, but am interested in finding some of her music now. I am over 32, but since the late 70s and early 80s we have spent more time out of the U.S. than in. Looking forward to visiting again.
Blessing,
Kathie, missionary in Costa Rica
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. YOU GOT TO SEE EVIE????? I grew up listening to her music! My parents copied her Christmas record into tape for me, but the quality is quite bad. I would LOVE to get the same album on CD.
Come on ring those bells
Light the Christmas tree
Jesus is the king
Born for you and me
Come on ring those bells
Everybody say
Jesus we remember this your birthday.
How fun, I could feel the excitment just reading that! I'm sorry I don't know her. At a church here, they used to have the "Singing Christmas Tree" the risers were in a tall, triangle shape, and their robes were green, with a star on top. It was so great, but they aren't able to do it anymore, for some reason. I really wish I could have shared that with my kids. It's so great that you were able to share this with your kids. I think it's so much fun to do that.
What a wonderful marvelous time it sounds like you hed watching someone who meant so much to you up close and in person belt it out! The picture of you and Evie is so nice and you will always be able to treasure those for sure!
I love Evie. Last year in our church program a trio sang, "Come on Ring Those Bells." It was so refreshing to hear it again. What a wonderful time you had at the concert, I'm jealous.
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