Bridges Sings for a Legend

by Collette Bullock

Canadian Legend on Vicki Gabereau

Last December, BRIDGES (Margaret - Lead, Barb - Baritone, Anna - Bass, and Collette - Tenor) got tickets to be in the audience of the Vicki Gabereau Show in Vancouver.

Vicki was having a very special guest on that day, someone we all love and grew up listening to. We'll keep you in suspense for a moment as we tell you our exciting story. Several days before the show, Collette's husband got this idea to take a recording of ourselves down to the CKVU Studio, along with a letter from us to ask if it would be possible for us to sing before or after the show for Vicki and her special guest. Well, we didn't hear anything from them, but we decided to dress up in matching outfits, just in case. If we couldn't sing, at least we might get noticed - we could always dream!

We arrived at the studio about an hour and a half before the show and we spoke to someone with the show who remembered seeing our letter and tape. We were informed that there would be no time for us to sing. Oh well, we thought, we'll just sing anyway - right then and there in the lobby while we waited to go into the studio. We just started singing - Christmas carols. We soon had a rather large audience and we sang for nearly an hour as people cheered us on. It was amazing and very exciting. It had made our day, but then we saw this man looking down on us (we were in an atrium). He watched us for quite awhile - we waved at him as we continued to sing. Then he made his way down. It turns out he was with the show and he asked us all sorts of questions about who we were, how long we'd been together, etc. He then asked for our card and a tape which we just happened to have with us (we were well prepared). He then thanked us and left.

It was time to go into the studio. We took our seats in the second row - Barb's father, John West (barbershopper) and her husband, Pierre were with us. There was a full audience and the show was being taped. First we were all taken through a "clapping lesson" - when to clap, how loud to clap, how to stop clapping, etc.. Then Vicki Gabereau was introduced and out she came. She hobnobbed with the audience for awhile - and she noticed us! She's quite a funny lady (and very personable) - she just looked at us and said "and who are you"? We explained who we were and then someone from the audience said "they sing really well too - they performed for us". Vicki then asked if it was us who was singing in the lobby. Anna responds "did you like it?". Vicki responds "yes, very much". Then Anna says "well, then it was us". Everyone laughs. There was more bantering back and forth and then it was finally time to start the taping and introduce her special guest. Out she came, looking beautiful - it was amazing to see her in person not more than 20 feet or so in front of us!!

During a break in the taping, the four of us decided to swap seats so that we could see better (the cameras were in our way). As we were shuffling about, Vicki suddenly says "what's all the ruckus up there"? Then her special guest says "you're not leaving already are you". Everyone laughed and then the special guest asked why we were all dressed alike. Well, that was the beginning of the most exciting part of this story, so please read on.

We explained that we were a quartet and Vicki told her that we had been performing for her audience before the show. Someone from the audience yelled down "they sing beautifully too". Other audience members joined in in enthused agreement. Then John (Barb's Dad and "Manager") yells down "and they sing one of your songs". The special guest asks which one and we tell her. She then says "well, I guess we'll just have to hear them sing then won't we". The audience erupts in cheers and the four of us are quite stunned. The show's "people" are all starting to panic, saying that there's just not enough time. To which her guest says "well I guess I have some pull here". Vicki is in total agreement. We're then asked to stand up and sing "her" song.

Our moment of "fame" has arrived!! Our knees are like rubber as we stand up and from our seats, Barb blows pitch. As she does so, the special guest (who has quite a sense of humour), pretends to blow pitch with her mouth, but in a lower tone and then says cheekily "oops, did I throw you off". She didn't - and the next thing we know, we were singing "Could I Have This Dance" for none other than Miss Anne Murray!!

What a thrill. When we finished singing the entire song, Anne actually wiped tears from her eyes (really, we're not making this stuff up). Then she said, "wow, you sing lower than I do, what are you doing tonight" (referring to Anna who has a bass solo part that is wonderful). Everyone laughs. She says thank you and then it's time to go on with the show.

Later, after Anne Murray had left, Vicki Gabereau says to us "did you know that Anne was singing along with you"? Then she says "if I had it my way, you would have sung on the show, on tape, but there's all these silly union rules".

We even got "paid" for all our efforts - one beautiful Vicki Gabereau coffee mug to share. Of course, our biggest payment are the memories which we will cherish. The day after the big event, we sent thank you e-mails to Vicki and to Anne Murray's web site. A few days later we received a response back from Anne Murray's site "Thank you for your e-mail to Anne, I heard through her publicist that there had been a performance on the Vicki show. I will forward your e-mail onto Anne who is in Winnipeg performing".

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