{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Podcast 973: A Conversation with Linda Purl","description":"You\u2019ve probably seen Linda Purl act more often than you\u2019ve heard her sing.  Besides being Richie Cunningham\u2019s girlfriend and Fonzie\u2019s fianc\u00e9e on Happy Days, Matlock\u2019s daughter Charlene Matlock, and Pam\u2019s Mom\/Steve Carell\u2019s girlfriend on The Office, she has had stints on Homeland, True Blood, and Hacks. She has starred in over 45 made-for-TV movies and is currently recurring on The Bold and the Beautiful. She\u2019s been on the Broadway stage and a number of Off-Broadway productions, performing roles from Shakespeare to the one-woman theatrical presentation of Joan Didion\u2019s The Year of Magical Thinking. But she can sing. And This Could Be the Start (Reaching Records) shows off her talents in spades. Backed by a band composed off Tedd Firth (piano) David Finck (bass), Ray Marchica (drums & percussion) and Nelson Rangell (Reeds) the album is a tight collection of Standards, from Jimmy Van Heusen and Cole Porter to Cy Coleman and Stephen Sondheim. Add to that the vocal version of Carla Bley\u2019s \u201cLawns\u201d with lyrics by Sara Teasdale, and you have a constantly interesting listen. Born in Connecticut, Ms. Purl grew up in Japan, becoming the only foreigner to have trained at the Toho Geino Academy. Her studies continued at Neighborhood Playhouse and Lee Strasberg Institute. She was Founding Director of the California International Theatre Festival. She tours with her Music Director Tedd Firth, who she describes as her catalyst for recording the new album. Podcast 973 is my conversation with Linda Purl as discusses how she selects her tunes and prepared for This Could Be the Start. Musical selections include a dreamy \u201cLet\u2019s Get Lost,\u201d the peppy \u201cLive Alone and Like It\u201d and \u201cTwo Hearts on Lawns.\u201d ","author_name":"Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show","author_url":"http:\/\/straightnochaserjazz.libsyn.com","html":"