In mid October, Calvin Schwartz, writer, reporter for NJ Discover interviewed Linda Chorney, long before any Grammy buzz or nominations (which were announced on November 30th). So Calvin and NJ Discover therefore scooped the journalistic world and major media outlets. Perhaps good old fashioned NJ journalistic instincts but a great appreciation for the enormous talent of Linda Chorney. In the months since then, Linda has become the darling of the Grammy nominations and NJ Discover was commissioned by hooplaha.com ( a dynamic new site for smiles, thinking and upbeat motivational stories with daily updates)to do a video with Linda. And thanks to hooplaha.com for allowing NJ Discover to share this wonderful story about Linda’s journey.

By Calvin Schwartz:
A few weeks ago my personal blog was a copy of my interview with an amazingly voiced singer, Linda Chorney, who was just beginning the process of submitting her album ‘Emotional Jukebox’ for Grammy nomination consideration.

I consider that interview my finest hour and journalistic achievement since my whole ‘Woodward and Bernstein’(remember them?) shtick began on July 30, 2011; my first day as a journalist when I covered Old Freehold Day and heard this vibrant feisty singer (of course Linda) do a set before a crowd of people more intent that hot day of getting free rides on a hay tractor, back and forth to a suburban New Jersey parking lot. As Humphrey Bogart (Rick) said to Claude Rains (Louis) in ‘Casablanca’ it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I’ve observed the process as Indie (no major record label) Linda Chorney has suited up with determination, drive, depth and spirit and presented herself to the establishment called Grammy Awards. I’m a visual literary guy: I see Joan of Arc, Althea Gibson (one of my life’s heroes. Go Google if you don’t know her), Annie Oakley, Susan B. Anthony, Marian Anderson, Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War heroine. There’s a hotel near Linda in Red Bank named after her). You see, I like rugged individualists like Linda Chorney. She went out and used the extant tools to bring her musical message to the Grammy voters.

She’s an Indie. I look at her fellow nominees for Best Americana Album, most of them loaded with Grammy awards already. Linda has now been called the darling of the Grammy awards by many reporters and observers because of the fire of determination to bring awareness to her music far from the maddening crowd of big record labels and money. There’s always a Benedict Arnold, a Dathan (played by Edward G. Robinson in ‘Ten Commandments’) or just another political party on the other side of midnight or an aisle. So I smile sardonically and read the words of some ‘Bob,’ ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guy who are upset because they don’t know her music and don’t think she belongs where she is. Then I look at the United Nations and its inability to reach agreement in ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and I know since the time my distant relatives, the Cro Magnons’ played a rendition of soccer right here in Jersey across the street from me, that there will always be towers of babble, ignorance and jealousy as some ‘Bob, ‘Baker’ or ‘Houston’ guys recently demonstrated and restored my faith in the old adage, “some folks never get it.” As I see it, as objectively as I can be, Linda’s music is wonderful, moving and passionate and deserves to be right in front of all of us with Grammy recognition. I do believe George Washington would’ve loved it too, especially her song from ‘Emotional Jukebox’ called ‘Cherries.’ George did chop down the cherry tree and was honest about it. That’s what I like about Linda Chorney.