Tiger Beat - July 1970 (typed by Carol R.)

My Brother, Bobby (Part 4)
By his sister, Darlene

This month in Darlene's exclusive story for Tiger Beat readers, she takes you along as she surprises Bobby by attending his concert in Anaheim just before Christmas.

Let me begin by telling you what happened to me last December!

It all started on Wednesday, December 17th, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon when the phone rang. It was my dad, and he asked me if I could fly out to the West Coast to be at Bobby's first concert at the Anaheim Convention Center. And if it would be possible for me to leave the 19th as the concert was the evening of the 20th.

I couldn't believe my ears! I knew that Bobby was giving a concert, and I had thought how much I would like to be there, but this was too good to be true! I told Dad that I would call him that evening, but things would have to be checked out with my husband, Mac, and the kids. I asked Dad if Bobby knew that I was coming, and he said no, that they (Mom and Dad) wanted to surprise him!

HAPPY FOR ME - The first thing I did when I hung the phone up was to call Mac. I asked him what he thought about it. He was so happy for me he said, "don't worry about the kids, my vacation starts the 19th and I'll be home with them!" Mac knew how much this meant to me!

I figured if I left on Friday, I would have to be back home no later than Monday or Tuesday, what with Christmas being that Thursday. Then, I counted my blessings that for once in my life I had all the Christmas shopping done and the house and tree were decorated. So, there wasn't anything to hold me back since Mac had given me the go-ahead.

Then, I got back on the phone to make my airline reservations. That was somewhat of a problem. It seemed that everyone was trying to get home for Christmas. But after what seemed to be hours of conversation with many airline representatives and near panic, the reservations were made and I was to arrive at L. A. International Airport at 5 p.m., Friday the 19th. I called my Dad back and told him I would be there.

GOT EVERYTHING READY - Well, that left me Thursday to get everything ready for the trip, get my hair done and go to the store so there would be plenty of food in the house while I was away.

Friday at 3 p.m., I boarded the plane at Friendship Airport in Baltimore. It was a smooth flight and we landed in L.A. at 4:55 p.m. My dad was standing by the unloading ramp. It had been a year since I had seen Mother or Dad and he looked terrific! At this point, I want to mention something about my parents. They are two of the most fantastic people I know, who are young at heart, young in thought and young in appearance. They dig the "today scene." And they have always been the greatest, to Bobby and to me.

By the time my Dad and I had gotten the luggage, it was 5:30. Have you ever traveled the freeway at that time of day? Well, cars were bumper to bumper, and what normally is a 20-minute trip to the Valley turned out to be a 45-minute trip!

BOBBY HAD BEEN THERE - We stopped by the house first and Dad went in to pick something up. He came out and told me that Bobby must have been by because the kitchen light was on. We then headed for the beauty shop where my Mom works. It was great seeing her again, and she told us that Bobby had just left not more than five minutes before we arrived. It would have spoiled the whole surprise if we had run into him at the shop because we wanted to surprise him the night of the concert!

Saturday morning, we got up early because Mom had to work at the shop until noon. I went with her to help her out. I was so excited the entire day thinking about that evening and hoping the surprise would be a surprise! When Mom and I got home and were getting ready, I started getting very nervous. I usually get nervous before he does a show on T.V., and this time I was doubly so. We were dressed and ready and were waiting for Patti Carnel, Bobby's date for that night, to arrive because she was going to ride out to Anaheim with us.

When Patti arrived, we all piled into the car and headed for the Disneyland Hotel where Bobby was hosting a reception for his friends and the press. The closer we got to our destination, the more butterflies I got in my stomach! We got to the hotel and parked the car. We then walked around trying to find the banquet room where the reception was being held, and after a few wrong turns we finally found it.

DIDN'T SEE ME - There was a large group of people standing around Bobby when we walked in. Bobby eyed Mom and Dad, and left the crowd to greet them with a hug. I was standing behind Patti, and Bobby walked up to her and said hello. He looked at me and smiled, then turned his head, and as quickly as he turned away he turned back again saying, "Darl?" With that he gave me a big hug and I laid my head on his shoulder and cried! I have to tell you that Bobby had a few tears in his eyes too! He asked me how I got there and if Mac and the kids were with me. I told him that they were back home and that Mom and Dad had sent for me to surprise him. And the money they were saving to buy a dishwasher with was used for my trip. He asked me when I would have to leave, and I told him Tuesday.

Several photographers asked if we would mind having our picture taken together. Afterward Bobby escorted Mom, Dad and me over to the buffet table to get something to eat.

I met some of the nicest people at the reception. In particular, Ann Moses and her lovely parents. I had talked to Ann on the phone before I went out to California, and when I saw her sitting at the table, I knew who she was before anyone mentioned her name.

TO THE CONCERT - Bobby left the reception about an hour after we had arrived. He had to get changed and relax for a few minutes. We departed 30 minutes later to go across the street to the Convention Center. Needless to say, I was amazed to see thousands of kids going inside the center to see my brother perform!

We went in, and were escorted by a page to our seats. I looked around this enormous place and asked what the seating capacity was. I was told nine thousand. And do you know that every seat was occupied!

Then the lights dimmed down and Sam Riddle appeared on the stage. The kids started chanting Bobby's name, so Sam Riddle asked them who did they come to see. They all screamed Bobby Sherman. Have you ever heard nine thousand voices screaming at once? It leaves you a little deaf, at least it did me! After two groups appeared, the house lights went up for a 15-minute intermission.

ASKING FOR AUTOGRAPHS - Mom and I were sitting there talking about the acts we had just seen when we heard noises around us. We looked up and saw several kids standing before us asking for autographs. They all asked me if I was Bobby's sister and when I said yes, they said, they thought so, because we look so much alike.

Then the house lights darkened and the kids went back to their seats. Sam Riddle came out on the stage again and announced Bobby. With that, everyone started screaming. Bobby came out on stage looking great in his silver blue fringed shirt. His appearance was met by nine thousand screaming voices which almost overwhelmed me! Although this wall of sound was uncomfortable to me, Bobby has told me that one of the biggest thrills he gets from his work is stepping out on stage and being met by this receptive roar of approval and love from his fans. His first song was "Roll Over Beethoven", and although it was somewhat difficult to hear over the screams of his fans, I settled down to enjoy Bobby's voice. Several of the young girls became so excited that they passed out and had to be taken to the First Aid Station!

For the entire hour that Bobby was on stage, the girls continued to scream. Bobby would wave the peace sign or point at one of his fans and they would go into orbit. Whether they came to hear him, or see him or to scream their appreciation to him is a secret shared only by his young fans in the audience. I was overwhelmed and deeply moved by the devotion of Bobby's fans. I just couldn't believe that this was happening to Bobby! My little brother!

BOBBY WAS GONE - Bobby sang many songs including "Little Woman" and "La La La" and I found myself swept along with the enjoyment of the moment when suddenly, the house lights came back on and Bobby was gone. The audience and I felt mildly stunned by the suddenness of his departure. I joined his fans in calling for his return, but the safety of his fans and Bobby, himself, required this sudden exit from the stage.

Then, there were kids standing around us crying and asking for more autographs. None of the kids were leaving the center, they were all trying to crowd around us. Policemen had to escort us out to Bobby's dressing room. The police were afraid that the kids would get hurt if we stayed there any longer. On our way to the dressing room, we passed one of the First Aid Stations. We looked in and saw one of the little girls that had passed out during the performance. We went in and talked to her, and asked her for her address so that Bobby could send her an autographed picture. She was so happy, I thought she was going to pass out again!

We left and went into the dressing room, where much to my surprise, were many gifts, cakes and candies for Bobby from his fans. The cakes were just beautiful, shaped in Christmas trees and ornaments.

The four of us waited in the room for about half an hour; then we gathered the gifts and headed for the car. There were several kids waiting outside for us. They asked questions about Bobby and wanted Mom to sign their pictures. We then got in the car and headed home.

HAPPY FOR BOBBY - We were so happy for Bobby that the concert turned out so beautifully. Bobby told me before we left that he would be out the next day so we could be together before I had to leave for home.

He was there at noon on Sunday. We wanted to go out to lunch, but we couldn't think of a restaurant that was open on Sunday, so we just got in the car and drove around until we found one that was open. It was a Mexican restaurant, and we had a most delicious luncheon. Afterwards, we went back home, where Bobby and I ended up in the sound studio. He played his new song, which hadn't been released then, "Easy Come, Easy Go." We talked for hours about the kids and Mac. I asked him several questions about what things he would be doing in the coming months.

Bobby wanted to get home early, as he had an early morning call at the studio. But, we were enjoying ourselves so much and were so involved in conversation that he didn't leave until 12:30 that night! We had a great time together and it's something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

We don't have many opportunities to see each other anymore because of his very busy schedule, and my living 3,000 miles away. But he has promised me that the next time he gets a little time off, he will spend it with us. We are looking forward to his visit!

Before I knew it, I was on a plane early Tuesday morning headed for Maryland. The time had gone by so quickly, it seemed that everything that had happened had been a beautiful dream. Before I sign off, I want to tell you that Bobby got our folks the dishwasher for a Christmas present!