Linda “Peaches” Tavani
Picture the moment: Linda “Peaches” Tavani (then Linda Greene) is the second ‘Peaches’ to have recorded with Herb for Peaches & Herb. The album is being produced and Linda gets to pick the final song for the album. She chooses “Reunited” because of the power the song had over her when she first heard its basic demo.
In that moment, her life changed forever. “Reunited” became one of the biggest things to ever happen to R&B, pop, and soul. It has since featured on TV shows like That ‘70s Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and more. Along with other smash hits like “Shake Your Groove Thing” – which was also performed by Linda – “Reunited” has gone on to become one of the most iconic songs of the of the last fifty years.
As we talked, me in London and her in Los Angeles, she told me how she knew that song would be big. “This song is gonna change your life and a lot of others,” she remembered thinking to herself. “It made me feel like I had a purpose and an important mission.”
“People just recognised me as Peaches from then on.”
From there, the rest is history. After leaving Peaches & Herb she met and fell in love with music producer Stephen Tavani and became Linda “Peaches” Tavani. It has always been about the music, but more than that it has been about impacting the lives of those around her.
“It meant a lot to me that my music was bringing people to God.”
With her husband Stephen, Linda started WOW JAM, an organisation which works with local communities to meet the needs of that community, not just on the day of the WOW JAM event, but afterwards too. It is clear from talking to Stephen and Linda that they love God and want the rest of the world to love God too, but WOW JAM isn’t about preaching a message. It is about filling a need, whether that need is taking a simple family photo and sending it to the family so they can have a family portrait or whether that need is finding someone a job, they are there to work with the community to fill its needs.
“We do it with a lot of fun, but with good intentions.”
For Linda, life is about the people who live it. It is about making bonds and loving one another. That’s what her solo career is all about. It might seem strange to wait so long after leaving Peaches & Herb to start up a solo career, but if you know Linda it makes sense. Not only has she produced several gospel albums with Stephen since Peaches & Herb – placing her golden voice on full display – she has also had a family. And now that the kids are all grown up, she is getting back out there. There is still a lot left for Linda “Peaches” Tavani.
A Night of Love Songs w/Linda “Peaches” Tavani
“You usually kick your kids out of the house. Well, my kids are kicking me out, telling me I have a lot left to do.”
Transition from Peaches & Herb to just Peaches was never going to be easy. With songs as iconic as “Reunited” and “Shake Your Groove Thing” it is difficult to strike a middle ground between new and old. But with the release of her first solo single “How Many Times” in 2019, which showcased her powerful voice of gospel and soul, she showed that she was more than ready to take to the stage again.
“I’m gonna make it fun and I want the music to be beautiful and make you wanna dance.”
On February 13th, Peaches will launch her solo career with a show at the renowned Vibrato Grill Jazz Club. Because Peaches is an icon, and because her classics are still just as fun to sing now as they were then, she will be performing some of her old songs from the days of Peaches & Herb, only this time with backing singers and not Herb. But she will also be bringing to the stage new and fresh songs that highlight the range and brilliance of Peaches’ vocal talent. With a fantastic band – many of whom have played for other hugely-successful artists over the years – and brilliant backing singers, Linda will take the listener on a journey that will both relive the memories and forge a new path. It will be an exciting event and one you won’t want to miss. If you are anywhere near Los Angeles, find a way to get to the Vibrato on February 13th.
“It’s about bringing life wherever you are.”
In true Linda fashion, the show isn’t just about the music. It’s also about the people. When Linda went to the Grammy’s for her first time she met Herb Alpert, creator of the Vibrato Grill Jazz Club. He looked at her and said, “Yup, this is the new Peaches.” Of course, she had recently become the new Peaches so it was true, but more than that it was an affirmation of sorts. She was the new Peaches, and the one who would sing some of their most famous songs ever. So yeah, February 13th at the Vibrato is an important night for Linda. It’s a special night. Oh, and it’s also the night before her wedding anniversary. There’s that too.
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**This article originally published February 2, 2020
If you want to follow Linda “Peaches” Tavani, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter @lindaispeaches. To go to her website, just click here.
