More Fan's Stories

I just had to tell you this story. Back in November, 2002 my husband and I went to see James Darren at Caesars in Atlantic City, NJ. Being from South Philadelphia originally, but living in Brigantine, NJ for the past 20 years, I have adored James Darren since the first Gidget movie. Anyway, his show was fantastic and he looks just great.

My birthday was the following month and my 14 year old son made a CD for me of all James' songs. I play it constantly every single day.

But the best part of this story is that now my son has found a new type of music that he loves - the old standards that James sings! His favorite songs are "Dancing in the Dark" and "Night and Day." But Gidget is right up there also.

Hopefully, James can come back to the Jersey shore soon and I will definitely bring my son to see him.

Thank you.
Nanci Fitzpatrick

THANK YOU EVY DARREN!

On Saturday, 9/29/01, my lifelong dream came true...I met James Darren! And I owe it all to the lovely Evy Darren (Jimmy's wife) who was kind enough to take me backstage to meet Jimmy. Thank you Evy!!! You're a doll!!

It was my third time seeing him in person. I saw him last November at Harrah's and in August at the Live! with Regis & Kelly show in NYC and he is as handsome as ever, if not more, if that's possible! I was at Caesar's in Atlantic City for Jimmy's 9:00PM show. It was a magical night. He's a wonderful entertainer with a beautiful voice. It's an absolute joy to experience such talent performing the best music ever written. In my book he fills the void that Sinatra and Martin have left behind. Thank you Jimmy!

Partway through the show our Maitr'd moved us up against the stage. I literally could touch his feet. I waved my two CD's at him and he quipped" Oh, you bought the two CD's." As if I were the only one. Then he held them up as I snapped a picture. What a guy! Of course I asked for a picture with him and he said "Sure, after the show." Well, I watched with great anticipation and awe as he sung the night away. Wow!  After the show I headed to the stage door and tried desperately to persuade the security guard to let me go backstage. Well, he wasn't budging. Only those on the "list" were allowed back. Then lucky for me Evy Darren opened the stage door. I screamed "Evy!" and practically leaped at her. "I recognize you from your pictures. Oh please let me meet Jimmy. He held up my CD's and promised me a picture! I've been waiting all my life to meet him!" Well, the darling that she is she said "Of course you can come back as long as your a fan you can come backstage". What a sweetheart! She even held the door open for me and my husband. As we walked backstage I told her what a lucky woman she is, to which she agreed. I thanked her over and over and then there he was. I thought I was going to die! James Darren! She then told Jimmy there was a fan to meet him and with that she motioned for me to walk to him. There were about 25 people there already posing for pictures.  He was very kind and gracious as I babbled on being a fan of his. I was so nervous! as I introduced him to my husband, I told him he was the reason I grew up to marry an Italian man and that my husband Dominick was candidate for his IMO (Italian Men Only) club. "He's Italian and in the garbage business!" We posed for a picture and he signed my CD. He even let me kiss him! What a guy! With that I thanked him. I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I shook Evy's hand and thanked her as I told her when I was a young girl I would kiss the TV screen when Jimmy was on it. She laughed!  Jimmy & Evy, thank you again for the thrill of my life! You're both wonderful people. Thank you for making my dream come true. I have but one request....could you find it in your heart to put me on that backstage "list' next time your in Atlantic City. Please? You see I was so nervous and excited that I would cherish the opportunity to repeat such a wonderful experience, hopefully in a more relaxed state of mind. It was an honor to meet you both!

Your fan:
Debbie DiCanto
PS I'm not always this wacky!

The James Darren Concert with the York Symphony held on February 2, 2002 was magnificent. It was good to see that his fans came from as far as Bronx, NY and Johnstown, PA to witness a masterful performance. The melding of two great talents, James Darren and the York Symphony Orchestra, resulted in a memorable evening. 

The York Symphony Orchestra is composed of 70 professional musicians under the direction of world class conductor Dr. Robert Hart Baker.  James Darren is a world class entertainer with a mellow voice that sounds to me like a blend of the best qualities of two legends, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.  The only thing missing was James Darren singing his own best selling "Goodbye Cruel World".   

I hope that James Darren will return to South Central Pennsylvania in the future, so that we can again witness a remarkable talent.
Art Ballant

DEAR MR. JAMES DARREN:

I'M WRITING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT A PLEASURE & A DREAM COME TRUE IT WAS TO SEE YOU IN PERSON @ THE MACOMB CENTER IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MI. YOU'RE AS GOOD LOOKING AS EVER. LOVED HEARING YOUR GREAT SINGING VOICE. WHAT A NICE, KIND & CARING PERSON YOU ARE TO LET ME GIVE YOU A HUG!! AS I MET YOU IN PERSON, THAT HAS BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER. LOVED ALL YOUR GIDGET MOVIES. I SURE HOPE YOU PLAN TO COME BACK TO THE MACOMB CENTER OR FREEDOM HILL HERE IN MICHIGAN. I LOVED YOUR SHOW. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET AN AUTOGRAPHED PICTURE OF YOU. I GOT YOUR NEW CD THE FIRST DAY IT CAME OUT. IT'S GREAT! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! SURE LOVE ALL THE SONGS. PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER CD. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE A REPLY FROM YOU. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME WRITING. ALSO, DO YOU HAVE A FAN CLUB?

GOD BLESS YOU
YOUR FAN,
KATHLEEN KING

Dear Stompy:

First of all thanks for offering Jimmy's new CD, I love it! And most of all thanks for posting his appearance on Live! with Regis & Kelly. I wrote them a letter and much to my surprise I received tickets the Friday before the show. I was elated! Then the evening before the show I had a message that the show was over booked and they would not be able to accommodate me. My husband new how disappointed I was and told me to just show up at the show anyway. Well I was up at 3:00 AM and off to pick up my girlfriend, who had planned to go with me, and we caught a train to NYC. The whole way in I kept thinking we wouldn't get in. But low and behold we did. When they asked if there were any James Darren fans I jumped up! They took 5 of us into the studio and sat us in the first 2 rows. Unfortunately I was in the second row but thrilled none the less.

It was my first "TV" show experience and it was interesting to see the entire process. However, when Jimmy finally came on I thought my heart would stop. He's still gorgeous!!!! I was as giddy as school girl! I waved my CD at him during a commercial break and asked me where I got. All I could manage get out was "Stompy" and I blurted out "I love you, I've been a fan since I was a young girl" However, in my nervous stupidity I didn't get to ask for an autograph and the show came back from commercial break.

He then sang "Because of You" and sat on the lap of the girl in front of me. Lucky thing, I wished it had been me. After that he moved to the other side of the studio and there went my chance for an autograph.

But what a thrill I had and I owe it all to you! Many thanks Stompy.

My husband is taking me to see him in September in Atlantic City.

I'll be getting tickets for his Sat night show. He's also doing a 1:00 PM.

Sincerely:
Debbie DiCanto

I don't know if you already know this, but I think every James Darren fan should. I just saw the sneak preview of Hearts in Atlantis. Part way through the movie, there's a scene where the mother puts on a record. You can hear the song "Come Fly With Me" softly playing. She turns up the volume and you can hear it perfectly. I almost had a seizure in my seat, that singer sounded so familiar. I had to double check the credits just to be sure, but I was right. Not Tony Bennet, not Frank Sinatra, but James Darren. I left the theatre with a huge grin on my face. Just thought you'd be interested to know.

Michelle 09/23/2001

Just wanted to talk about the great show Mr. Darren put on with the San Diego Symphony at the Navy Pier this summer. It was a fun and entertaining evening. Jimmy paid a wonderful salute to Frank Sinatra both in song and memories. The cool, night sea breeze and sitting out over the water at the pier just added to the romantic, electric atmosphere. Jimmy's new CD, "Because of You" was hot off the "press" and available that night. During the show I walked up to the stage, reached up (the stage was fairly high) and shook his hand welcoming him to San Diego and blew him a kiss. He returned the gesture and went on to another song. After the song, he paused and asked where I was in the audiance and personally thanked me for the welcome. Later in the show I went back up to the stage with a copy of his new CD and handed it up to him to autograph. As he reached down to hand it back to me he paused, pulled it back up planted a kiss on it and handed it back down to me!!! The audiance warmly approved. At the close of the evening Jimmy sang "Fly With Me" to a beautiful display of fire works over the bay. To say the least, it made for an unforgetable evening. Jimmy, you are the best! You sure know how to touch a heart! Until the next time.....
Luv ya pallie! -

Kim Canto
10-1-01

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