By Paul Freeman [Sept. 2012 Interview]

In the ‘70s, Helen Reddy wasn’t just a singing star. She was a cultural phenomenon. After a decade away from performing, Reddy has returned to the stage. Welcome home, Helen.

Reddy was born into an Australian show business family and, as a child, hit the vaudeville circuit with her parents. At 17, she had a kidney removed, so she focused solely on singing, rather than dancing. Reddy was briefly married in her teens and gave birth to a daughter, Traci [Traci Wald Donat, who went on to become a prominent video and commercial director/producer].

In 1966, Reddy won a talent contest on the Australian version of the “Bandstand” TV show. The prize included a trip to New York and apparently, a contract to record a single. However, that opportunity fell through. Reddy, a young, single parent, persevered, staying in the States, trying to gain a foothold in the music world. She married a struggling talent agent, Jeff Wald [who became her manager and father of their son, Jordan Sommers, now a producer/writer].

Reddy finally broke through in 1971, with the international hit “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” the powerful ballad from “Jesus Christ Superstar.” A long, memorable string of pop hits followed, including “Delta Dawn,” “You and Me Against The World” [which featured a shared recitation with Traci], “Angie Baby,” “Ain’t No Way To Treat A Lady,” “Somewhere in the Night,” “Peaceful,” “Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress),” Goffin & King’s ”I Can’t Hear You No More” and, of course, the anthemic “I Am Woman,” for which Reddy wrote the stirring, feminist lyrics.

She was a TV hit, as well, hosting specials and a weekly prime-time variety series. Reddy starred in the live-action/animated Disney fantasy, “Pete’s Dragon” in 1977. She was a guest star on such dramatic shows as “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Jeffersons” and “Diagnosis: Murder.”

Reddy’s graceful handling of a hectic show biz schedule is even more remarkable, because she suffers from Addison’s disease, a rare, chronic endocrine disorder, affecting the adrenal glands, causing pain and weakness.

During the ‘80s, Reddy embarked on a successful theatrical career, starring in such productions as “Anything Goes,” “Call Me Madam,” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Shirley Valentine,” and, on Broadway and the West End, “Blood Brothers.”

In recent years, she has guested on “Family Guy” and appeared in the crime film “The Perfect Host.” But Reddy retired from singing on stage in 2002.

Single and living in Australia again, Reddy worked as a clinical hypnotherapist and motivational speaker. In 2006, she resurfaced with an autobiography, “The Woman I Am.” In July, 2012, she returned to performing with a San Diego club gig and a benefit for a Los Angeles high school. At 70, Reddy can still entrance an audience with her expressive vocalizing.

You can share “An Intimate Evening with Helen Reddy” at Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore Street, S.F., 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, October 3 and 4. Tickets are $45. For more information, 415-655-5600 or www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco.

POP CULTURE CLASSICS:
It’s great to have you back! We’re looking forward to your shows at Yoshi’s in San Francisco.

HELEN REDDY:
Well, I’m looking forward to being in San Francisco. It’s one of my favorite cities.

PCC:
What prompted the return to performing?

REDDY:
Well, actually, it was my sister’s birthday. Her 80th. And she had a huge party. Just about everybody in musical theatre in Australia was there. And she asked me if I’d sing a duet with her, which I did. And I heard my voice coming through the speaker and I thought, ‘Gee, I haven’t heard that voice in a long time. Maybe I should go back to singing. So I did. And here I am.

PCC:
During the time you were away, did you miss performing?

REDDY:
No, not really. When I retired 10 years ago, I I went back to school and got a degree in clinical hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming. And so that was what I was planning to do for the rest of my life. But I did start to miss the music. So that’s why I’ve come back to singing. And, fortunately, the voice is still there. In fact, it’s probably in better shape than it ever was. And also, I like the fact that I’m able to come back without having to sing the greatest hits. I’m now free to sing the songs that I love. And I’m much more relaxed on stage. It’s a good time.

PCC:
The relaxation, is that why you say the voice is better than ever? To what do you attribute that?

REDDY:
So many singers, they vocalize every day. Me, I always found that my voice was never better than after like a three-week holiday or something. I get all my exercise, vocally, on stage. So, because of that, I’ve not overworked it.

PCC:
And you’re happy that the new show is not just the greatest hits. Does that mean deeper album cuts or songs you never recorded?

REDDY:
Exactly. Much more of the album cuts. Much more of the songs that I love. And very little of the greatest hits. Very little.

PCC:
And among those few, ‘I Am Woman,’ is that one in there?

REDDY:
‘I Am Woman,’ I actually recite at the end of the show.

PCC:
At the time that record was released, was it especially gratifying, because it was more than a hit, becoming a symbol of empowerment?

REDDY:
Well, it’s become an iconic song. A salute to feminism and all of that. But I really enjoy reciting it now, because it gives it so much more impact, I think.

PCC:
More impact, because the focus is then solely on the lyrics?

REDDY:
Yes, yes, I think that. Because, so many times, when it’s a song, it’s kind of like going to church and saying umpteen Hail Marys. After a while, your mind wanders and you’re thinking about other things. I like to really focus on the lyrics.

PCC:
You must still hear from women how much that song meant in their lives.

REDDY:
Oh, yes, yes. I still, to this day, get letters from women. And sometimes it’s something that they listened to when they were children. I still get comments about ‘Pete’s Dragon,’ the movie. I still get letters from women who write to me and say, ‘Your song gave me the strength to get out of the bad marriage’ or ‘I went to law school, because of your song.’ So that’s all extremely gratifying.

PCC:
Any particularly challenging aspects to the return to performing now?

REDDY:
Trying to remember the words [Laughs] after 10 years.

PCC:
But you’re getting a kick out if it, as well?

REDDY:
Oh, I’m loving it. Loving it. Yeah. When I step out on that stage, I am home. You have to remember that I started out in show business at the age of five, doing eight performances a week. And I’m very, very comfortable on a stage.

PCC:
So you were really born to perform?

REDDY:
My family, my parents had picked out what my career was going to be, from day one. And I do believe that we choose our parents. And that I came into this Earth wanting to be a singer and to have a message.

PCC:
That was always your passion and your path?

REDDY:
I think so. And I’m still on it.

PCC:
When you were brought over to New York, following the ‘Bandstand’ contest, and then were told you had no contract, how did you rise above that and muster the courage to stay in the country and pursue the career?

REDDY:
I’m a very determined person. And I had a three-year-old to boot. But I do not give up easily. In fact, it could be said that I do not give up at all.

PCC:
With all the whirlwind success, the hits, the TV success, was that difficult to deal with? Or just a fantasy come true?

REDDY:
Well, too many things happened at once, actually. So that was very wearing on me, health-wise. But I do love what I do. And I’m moving back to the United States in January.

PCC:
What prompted that decision?

REDDY:
Well, you know, that’s where my kids are. That’s where my son, my daughter, my granddaughter are. I had been flying over three times a year to see them. But it’s a very long trip. And it just felt like it was time to come back.

PCC:
Your kids, they got involved in the arts, as well?

REDDY:
Yes. I have a granddaughter [Lily Donat] who’s showing a great deal of promise. She’s 14. She plays guitar, writes her own songs, films herself playing and singing and then puts it on her Facebook. She’s also artistic in other ways. She’s always been very creative. So I think that’s the path she will probably go down. That’s my daughter’s daughter. My only grandchild.

And my son is very busy as a screenwriter. He’s working on a short film at the moment, but he’s also thinking about and talking about writing a movie-of-the-week based on my life.

PCC:
You mentioned Disney’s ‘Pete’s Dragon,’ earlier. That’s developed a cult following along the way. What was that experience like for you, making that movie?

REDDY:
Movie-making is not my favorite medium, because you’re on the set for 12 hours and you might only film for three minutes. It’s very much hurry up and wait. So, although I loved doing the film, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I really like live performance. That’s everything for me. Once I’m out on the stage, I’m home. I’m comfortable. I can do whatever I like. I can say whatever I like. It’s home.

PCC:
You seemed at home on TV. Were you?

REDDY:
Well, I like acting. Certainly in theatre. I’ve done four productions of ‘Shirley Valentine,’ which is a one-woman play. And I love doing that. But right now, it’s back to the music. And singing the songs that I love.

I mean, if I had had to come back and sing the greatest hits, I wouldn’t have bothered. But this is a chance for me to sing all the wonderful songs that I have recorded, but that didn’t get airplay, but that the fans are familiar with, because they’re album cuts. And there are also other songs, songs from the Great American Songbook. I do kind of a mixture of songs in my show.

PCC:
So, more so than ever before, you’re able to do exactly what you want on stage?

REDDY:
Oh, yes. This is pretty much the first time I’ve been able to do exactly what I want [Laughs]. Yeah. I mean, if I had to sing ‘Leave Me Alone’ one more time, I think I was going to kill myself - ‘Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me... Oh, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me.’ And that’s just one chorus!

PCC:
[Laughs] So was that one of the reasons for leaving performing 10 years ago? Were you tired of...?

REDDY:
Oh, yes, tired. Bored. Bored! But thank goodness. I wasn’t sure how the fans were going to react to my doing something fairly different after 10 years. But they have responded wonderfully. One of the fans said to me, ‘If I had to hear ‘Leave Me Alone’ one more time, I was going to slit my wrists!’ [Laughs] So anyway, yeah, there are so many wonderful songs. And you can only sing so many of them in one hour. So I’m doing the ones I love.

PCC:
And the illness, the Addison’s, is that something you still have to deal with, day to day?

REDDY:
Oh, Addison’s is incurable. I’ve had it more than half my life.

PCC:
So is that a constant struggle or just something you’ve learned to handle?

REDDY:
Well, I’m one of those people who pooh-poohs any idea of illness. I just live my life like a normal person. I take my cortisone every day. And I stay physically active. I’m still taking the stairs two at a time. It kind of bothers me, Paul, when I read an article and it says somebody lost their battle with cancer or somebody’s fighting... That’s not what it’s about. If you have an incurable disease, you learn to live with it. And I’m very, very lucky, in that I have a manageable disease. So, as far as I’m concerned, it would be like being a diabetic. You’ve got to take your insulin every day. I’ve have to take cortisone every day. It’s left me with a bit of a pot tummy, but, hey, that’s life.

PCC:
I read that you’ve been an avid walker and even just a few years ago went rock-climbing in Brazil. You are so resilient and determined. You’ve done motivational speaking?

REDDY:
Yes. I haven’t done much of it lately. But I do do motivational speaking. In fact I’ve got one coming up in March.

PCC:
Is that basically how to deal with life? Or does it target specific issues?

REDDY:
It depends. These lectures are usually a one-off thing. It’s an organization that’s celebrating a particular event, so I just go in there and talk about whatever is relevant to those people. So it could be about feminism. It could be about show business. It could be about clinical hypnotherapy. There’s a lot of subjects I could talk on.

PCC:
And all that positivity, does that have a good effect on you, as well as the audience?

REDDY:
Well, it’s very important to stay positive. That’s not to say there aren’t occasional mornings I wake up and would like to go right back to sleep again. I think we all have mornings like that [Laughs]. But, on the whole, yes, I do stay very positive, because life is good. Life is a wonderful thing. And as long as I’m here, I want to do as much good as I can.

PCC:
And the hypnotherapy, what led you into that field?

REDDY:
Actually, I had an out-of-body experience, when I was 11. And I’d been quite religious as a child, which had nothing to do with my family. They never ever accompanied me to any kind of a religious service. At age nine, I became an atheist, I was so turned off by what so many of the different religions were saying. It just didn’t ring true to me. So I became an atheist. And then, when I was 11, and I had this out-of-body experience, it was like, ‘Oh, my God, okay, there is an afterlife, there is another side.’ In other words, I was sort of going back to where I’d come from.

So that’s when I first started exploring reincarnation and that kind of thing. And so I started practicing hypnosis, when I was about 17. I’d worked in shows where there were hypnotists, but they were showmen. They weren’t interested in any of the medical aspects. To them, it was just a show. And I was more interested in the medical side of it. And, of course, in those days, there was no such thing as clinical hypnotherapy. In fact, I attended the first ever, Dr. Thelma Moss, she’s dead now, but it was the first time, this was when I was at UCLA, that they had a course on paranormal things. And I signed up for the course. And it was so popular that they had to move it out of the classroom and into an auditorium. And we all had to write about any sort of a psychic experience that we might have had. Well, the following week, Dr. Moss read out three of them. And mine was one. And, of course, it was about the out-of-body experience. It was something I didn’t talk about, because people would think you were nuts. They’d lock you up, if they thought you were dabbling in anything esoteric. But, for me, it was always very spiritual and made so much sense. There are so many things that don’t seem to make sense to us on this plane.

PCC:
So you still draw a lot of strength from the spirituality, even if it’s not necessarily from organized religion?

REDDY:
Well, I talk to the angels every day. And it’s amazing how they respond. It is amazing. I do believe every single one of us has a guardian angel. I do believe that we can ask them for help, if need it. They cannot interfere with free will. And they will not jump in, unless we request help. And we have to be very strong about thanking them afterwards, because they love gratitude.

PCC:
Do you think being in touch that way, has helped you connect with audiences?

REDDY:
Well, I do bless the audience, before I leave the stage.

PCC:
Has the perspective on life and career changed much over the years? It seems like you’ve always had a pretty healthy perspective.

REDDY:
Yes. I think I came in with a purpose, definitely. And, I love life. It’s a great time to be alive. I have a lot of hope for us, moving forward. And I think we’re coming into an era now, where there won’t be so many wars. Women are certainly taking their place in a lot of governmental functions. Here in Australia, we’ve got a female Prime Minister, we’ve got a female Governor General. Our mayor is a female. Change is happening.

PCC:
We’re a little behind the times in the States.

REDDY:
Yeah, I’m afraid you are. We still haven’t had a female Vice President. There are very strong women coming up now, who have so much to offer. And I think, we’re all in this life together. So let’s work together.

PCC:
As far as your art, what’s been the most satisfying aspect?

REDDY:
Gee, I don’t know. I've never really thought about that. There’s a moment before I walk out on stage, where it’s like electricity. And then you just go out there and it’s home. The stage is home to me.

PCC:
And it must be so gratifying that people are still responding so enthusiastically.

REDDY:
Oh, yes. When I did return to singing after 10 years, I thought, ‘I wonder if anyone’s going to remember me.’ They remembered. And I thought, ‘There’s no point in going back, if I have to sing all those old hits, because I don’t want to sing those songs ever again,’ which I don’t. And they responded so beautifully to some of the things I was doing. Most of the songs I sing are album cuts. So that they are familiar with the songs. But they’ve never really heard them on the radio. And there are just so many good songs out there, that there’s no way I’m going back to singing the old twaddle. Because I don’t think of myself as a pop star. I started out as a jazz singer. And I love having the chance to just jump in and sing songs that touch me or move me.

PCC:
Any possibility of a new recording?

REDDY:
No, not at the present time. Recording is kind of another era. I mean, look at MTV. Most of it is electronic, highly digitalized, all that stuff. No, I’m not really interested in recording. I like a live audience. In particular, I like being in a smaller setting. I don’t want to be singing at a racetrack or anything like that. I like being in a place where I can see their faces. Then I can connect.