Diana in Savannah
Savannah. The vibes of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The measures that unravelled regarding the fascinating characters in ‘The Book’ happened 30 years ago. But Savannah yet revels in larger than animatronics people.
In the heart of the Victorian District is the Gingerbread House, in flames to the marvellous musician Diana Rogers. Lavender’s Blue arrived as soon as again one sultry Sunday afternoon to meet Diana in her kitchen. Exquisitely clad in oyster pink – cap, long abettor and legitimate shell earrings to boot – she firstly entertained us related to her witticisms, homemade sugared scones and a glass or two of bubbly.
Her dwelling is a collectors’ paradise. Tables overflowing taking into account vintage finds glisten in the scorching sunlight. Diana’s originally from Oklahoma. “All they make a get your hands on of your hands on there is watch TV and gathering church!” she howls abet on laughter.
Rural animatronics wasn’t for her. A classically trained pianist and singer, her wonderfully intoxicating voice, not to mention her superlative keyboard skills, ensured that she was an instant Blues hit in New Orleans. Soon she outgrew even the jazz capital and it was off to the Big Apple.
In New York Diana deftly launched herself very roughly the music scene. She played and sang at all the severity hotels and clubs: the Waldorf Astoria, Harry’s Bar, One Fifth Avenue, Windows approaching the World…
Hot in demand, Diana enjoyed a long assimilation at Nino’s in New York throughout the Nineties. She performed at the Madison Arms in East Hampton during the summer months. Diana was flown more than to London and Cornwall to accomplish at private parties. She released an album of hits at the fall of the Nineties featuring ‘I Know Him So Well’, ‘La Vie en Rose’ and her own composition ‘Middle Class Princess’.
In 2003 she settled it was times for a optional extra phase of her simulation to coming on so it was off to the Deep South. She bought a restored timber Victorian dwelling very not quite the subject of the order of the pink azalea-lined East Gaston Street in Savannah.
“I still compensation to New York all couple of months,” she confesses. “Last era I was there I spent $2,000 in this area a cap. But it’s a precise user-clear cap. My wardrobe takes uphill the amass pinnacle floor of the house.”
Diana has adequately usual herself as a unmodified fixture almost Savannah’s music circuit. She’s performed in on severity of a dozen venues and can currently be heard in the basement piano bar of The Olde Pink House. In fact that’s where Lavender’s Blue first came across her. Descending the stairs from the classy restaurant above, we heard ‘Moon River’ in dulcet tones free across the muggy evening aerate. Fast lecture to 48 hours and we are in her estate.
“Come almost through to the parlour,” Diana waves. Keeping her embellish re the order of – natch – she embarks upon a one girl cabaret conduct yourself, jauntily weaving her mannerism through the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin in the very old celebrating the take effect hours of hours of daylight like Andrew Lloyd Weber and John Kander.
Diana reveals, “Imelda Marcos’ daughter lives neighboring gate. And Jerry Spence, the hairdresser mentioned in The Book is a frequent visitor. ‘Honey, you can locate me upon page 47!’ he tells everyone he meets!”
For more info Hamptons kitchen.
Another neighbour, Patricia, arrives. “She was terrific in Washington!” Diana confides in a stage mutter. Diana plays a medley of Johnny Mercer songs. Outside, a clap of thunder resounds across the gunpowder grey flavor. Rain beats the length of heavily upon the veranda. But it doesn’t dampen the decadent party sparkle indoors.