30 ▼ d t c a m b t r 10. 1 0 0 4 ▼ Just out
D iscover the F ine A rt
of A merican C raft
Q ueen
of the
Seattle's own Marge Starks raises money fo r
AIDS programs from her CD and tape sales
Fine works in jewelry, clay,
art glass, wood, and fiber
by Americas best.
T
by Christopher Kamera
Symphony, the Los Angeles Symphony and other
major orchestras. She studied at Juilliard and has
performed under such world-famous conductors
as Klemperer, Stravinsky, Mitropoulis and Arthur
Fiedler.
her career as an accountant ended in
“a After
few dozen
1984 (“I was out of work,” she bluntly says.
“Rejected a hundred times.”), her gay son sug­
gested she "go up to the Ritz and play for Ray,” the
owner. She did, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Marge has six children— “two girls, three boys
and Jim,” she says. With humorous glee Starks
notes that she was “married for more than 30
years— I just divided the time between three hus­
bands.”
Marge developed an intensely loyal following
at the Ritz. Friends and fans encouraged her first
recording in 1987: a tape called Dear Friends,
Love Marge. She earmarked proceeds for AIDS
support. A second tape, More Love Notes, fol­
lowed. Best o f Friends, released last year, com­
bines both earlier tapes onto a CD. Marge’s first
CD, That ’40s Feeling, a salute to the biggest hits
of that nostalgic decade, proved to be another
success. Sales showed that Marge’s fans sup­
ported the dual CD and tape format.
Light piano classics, Broadway show tunes,
Hollywood hits, and a few classical themes high­
light Marge’s recordings. They are immensely
listenable and gim­
mick free. As one
friend said, “It’s like
having Marge play in
your living room.”
The new 24 Kar­
ats continues the tra­
d itio n . From the
opening Show boat
medley to the final
notes of “People,” the
album is a delight. At
the gala release party
at Thum per’s, fans
were buying multiple
copies. One Boeing
executive bought 10
copies— ‘T hat takes
care of my Christmas
shopping,” he smiled,
as Marge inscribed
The Thumper's
each
tape. By the end
rabbit watches as
of the evening, Marge
Marge's sales
had autographed up
near the goal
m ore than $2,000
worth of tapes and
CDs. One fan keeps
“a couple of tapes and
CDs on hand for host
gifts or last-minute
8 birthday occasions.”
One of Marge’s
most
interesting sales
CE
>
CD
is a continuing order
from a convent of
5 Q nuns in the Midwest.
“I imagine that some­
one sent one of the sisters a CD,” Marge noted,
“but every few months I get another order from
the same convent. Maybe they’re using them for
gifts for family members.” Or maybe the halls are
alive with the sound of Marge.
Marge’s recordings are on sale at Thumper’s
and numerous Capitol Hill locations in Seattle.
They can be ordered, coll free, at 1 -800-213-4334.
“I can’t promise overnight delivery for Christ­
mas," Marge said, “but we sure can try. If we need
to mail CD or tape orders on Christmas Eve, then
we need to do it,” she declared. “Every dollar
counts.”
"And, don’t forget,” she added with a smile,
"Valentine’s Day is coming soon.”
hen Marge Starks was growing
up in Portland in the 1930s, she
had no idea that she would turn
out to be one of the Northwest’s
most celebrated AIDS activists
of the 1990s. With the help of
friends,” Starks has raised nearly $45,000 for AIDS
programs through the sales of her tapes and CDs—
albums based on her performance repertoire as
Seattle’s "Queen of the Keyboards,” as one colum­
nist tagged her.
W
Vi
Colorful etched
vases by Zellique.
The Real Mother
A Shop and Gallery in Portland, Oregon
Portland Airport
(503) 284-9929
901 S.W. Yamhill
(503) 223-9510
Washington Square
(503) 620-2243
USIC
Marge had a legendary run at the now departed
Ritz Cafe in Seattle. After a stint at the gay-owned
Jack’s Bistro, Thumper’s restaurant lured her into
its dining room, where Marge has been an audi­
ence-pleasing fixture for the last several years.
Thumper’s, Seattle’s classiest gay and lesbian res­
taurant, even underwrote Marge’s most recent CD
and tape release, 24 Karats.
All proceeds of that album and Marge’s three
earlier recordings are earmarked to benefit people
with AIDS. Seattle’s Rosehedge care facility has
received more than $24,000 in recent years from
the sale of Marge’s music.
So what if your holiday guests
aren't flexible... Your futon is!
¿2
Santiam
The Texan
Frame, Double Foam
Core Futon:
Frame, Double Size
Foam Core
Futon, Cover:
$198
(tO û û
Baja
Platform Bed Frame:
Double: $180
Queen: $195
S )^ tt/ i)a u L T f-
Available in Mahogany, Golden
Oak, and Black Finishes
cam Cwwwm
MAINSTORE WAREHOUSE
1916 NE BROADWAY
335-0758
BEAVERTON
11345 SW Canyon
626-0400 '
K eyboards
PORTLAND
3125 E. Burnside
234-6567
Marge began raising funds for AIDS in 1987
when her first tape was released. Her gala 70th
birthday party at Thumper’s raised nearly $6,000
for Rosehedge. Now 72, Marge has no plans of
stopping in her fight against AIDS. “We hope to
make $45,000 this holiday season, and I’m not
stopping until we hit the $50,000 mark,” she said
recently.
Marge Starks is an amazing woman. The young­
est musician to play with the Portland Symphony
Orchestra, Marge grew up in Portland and studied
music there. She graduated from Jefferson High
School in 1939—known then as Margery Will­
iams. She played the bassoon for 35 years, with the
Portland Symphony (as Marge Smith), the Seattle