Joni Mitchell & Bonnie Raitt

Great pics, Jane. You’re so generous to share your life with us – like that. It looks like it was a wonderful time. And man, the older Joni gets, the better looking she gets! She looks really gorgeous, just like you and Bonnie.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Joni Mitchell. I’m from Rochester, Michigan where Sally Mitchell, Joni’s ex-mother-in-law, resides/resided (not sure if she’s still living).

Back in the day, my mother worked for Mrs. Mitchell – as a domestic. I was pretty young and that was a long time ago. Even though, I do remember being so excited about going with my parents one Friday or Saturday night to a Detroit coffee house that was called the Chess Mate to see Joni and her first husband, Chuck Mitchell, perform.

Joni sang a song about a ladybug that she dedicated to me. Everyone looked at the only child in the joint; the little negro girl, is what they would’ve said back then, when she set up the song for the audience – saying something like, “This ones for Carlo”.

Oh Jane, I remember that I felt so proud to be called out and acknowledged like that. I know I smiled the biggest smile – probably grinning from ear to ear. I also have vague remembrances of the Chess Mates atmosphere; kind of a dive, it was dark and candlelit, and had red and white gingham checked tablecloths on the tables. I had to have been about 8 or 9 yrs. old, so I’d never been to a place like that before. I was completely mesmerized. Afterward we went by their apartment.

All that I can remember is that they lived somewhere by Wayne State University in Detroit in a tall building. Or, what I thought was a tall building, being over three or four stories tall, which was gigantic to me – being a kid. I was in total awe looking out of the windows that seemed like such an incredible view.

Joni was very kind to me and extremely hospitable, trying to engage me by showing me her new instrument, a long string instrument that was placed on their dining room table – a dulcimer. I bet you any money that one was her first. Anyway… She invited me to strum on the strings of it. But I remember being warned right away by my mom to be careful not to break anything. I think Joni knew that after that I was doing my best to hide my discomfort. My mom had taken all of the fun out of it, with just her warning. I’d been raised to be very polite and was really good at it, so I had no idea where that was coming from. I remember feeling ashamed and clamming up a bit. Like a lot of kids, I was kind of shy around people I didn’t really know.

My mom, whose name is Trudy, would occasionally talk on the phone to her sisters about “white people”. So, I definitely knew I was different. To a certain degree, she projected her feelings of inadequacy onto me, which wasn’t how I honestly felt as a child. But when I needed to, I’d play along just so I wouldn’t get in trouble.

It’s funny that I remember that much of that night. I guess signature moments that were special stand out in our minds. I say that it’s funny that I remember some of that night because I later experienced life changing events that left me devastatingly traumatized and as a result, I usually have difficulty recalling things in my past. I wonder if Joni remembers that night?

Jane, thank you so much for allowing to share all of this with you. And if you talk to Joni again, please tell her that she made a remarkable positive impression on the little girl that she sang to at the Chess Mate that night.

She gave me a glimpse into her great artistry and a magical peep into show business. Years later, I became “talent”. I earned my SAG and AFTRA cards and truly believe that meeting people like her, especially at a young age, left an indelible impression on me. And I’ll even go as far as to say, I attribute most all of the positive life I’ve had as a performer to not only God, but people like Joni. And Jane, what’s really cool right now – in this very moment is, this was a night that I never forgot it. God allowed me to remember (this), and that is so cool!