Bill Budris (44 years) Cranford NJ - USA

Dalida was a very special lady. I knew of her first as a performer who covered Petula Clark's pre-Downtown English singles in French, which in turn, forced Petula to start a French career. While visiting French Canadian friends in the late 70's, who were fans of Petula Clark, also were fans of Dalida. They played for me her new album at the time, "Ca Ma Fait Rever", and I was instantly hooked. I didn't care anymore that she covered early Petula songs, but was a entertaining force in her own right. Each visit to Canada, and to New York's Librarie de France in Rockefeller Center, lead me to collect some of Dalida's recordings (a jacket or 2 autographed) and eventually sway some friends in her direction. Even one friend at that time and I attended her one and only Carnegie Hall concert and had a blast! We even waited to see her, and literally got to the door where she was signing some autographs, and you could see her inside. However, her management had to get her out another way, so the door was closed, but her enterage started throwing out postcard photos of Dalida's Femme Et La Nuit album cover photo, and I couldn't grab any, but luckily my friend picked up six & shared half with me. I still have them somewhere. She has always stayed with me since, and when I learned of her passing, I was saddened. I still miss her, always waiting for when she would come back to America to perform. I was hoping she would have done Las Vegas. One thing I found out today that I never knew when I found this site. Yolanda (Dalida) and I share the same birthday and the same religious upbringing. I've recently been able to obtain the Orlando complete 10 CD reissue, and now am working on the Barclay one. I've recently purchased the remastered version of the Barclay hits. I had the previous issue and there is quite a quality difference. Therefore, once I have both box sets, I will have all her treasured songs. I am glad I found this site and we can keep her legacy alive.