Rick Springfield + Sahara
Posted Saturday, October 4, 2008 @ 11:10 am

11:05 a.m. I thought "Rick Springfield + Sahara" would get your attention. I'm blogging from PMac Music, at 2500 William St.

The line for getting Springfield's autograph started several minutes ago. People are sharing their Springfield experience. Behind me, I hear talk of where they sat at his last concert here, who watches him on the TV soap, "General Hospital" and what kinds of photos they have from live appearances.

Someone has asked if photos will be allowed today. PMac owner Paul MacDougall said he'll have to ask when the singer gets here. More in a moment, I'm going to talk to the woman who is first in line.

11:20 a.m.

Tracey Brakefield, 32, of Farmington, Mo., arrived in Cape Girardeau Friday afternoon, with her sister, Lisa Brotherton, 42. The sisters were taking a weekend away after burying their mom, Helen Brotherton, who died a month ago after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

It was supposed to be a "do-nothing weekend," Brakefield said, a time to loaf around the Drury Lodge and read books. She recalled being at the Rick Springfield concert for Sahara Aldridge in 2006, and, having followed the little girl's story, she looked up her name on the Internet. One thing led to another, and she found out about the concert. She called the number found online and was disappointed to learn tonight's concert was sold out. But Lisa called back and found herself talking the Shannon Aldridge, Sahara's dad. He'd just received two tickets from the sold-od concert, from fans who were not able to attend, Lisa said. She called a friend to run over and pick them up.

The sisters are the first two people in line here today. Tracey bought Springfield's compact disc, "We are the 80s" and Lisa has the DVD, "Live in Rockford."

They are thrilled to be here, and feel the turn of events is a gift from their mom.

"We were here to celebrate Mom," Lisa said. "This makes it all a special weekend."

There are about 12 people in line and a handful of others browsing. MacDougall has plans for a line that stretches out the door and around the corner. A TV camera crew just arrived.

11:31 a.m.
Chris and Pam Cannon will be at tonight's concert with a friend. Chris Cannon said he barely got the three tickets, arriving at PMac when only a handful were left.

The concert benefits Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship in Oak Ridge, Mo.

The couple's three daughters, Caitlin, 18; Madison, 14; and Mackenzie, 11, are also fans of the singer, Chris told me. They are anchoring the line at the moment.

Though the Cannons are from Cape, and many others in line today are from Southeast Missouri, others have traveled farther.

MacDougall sold two CDs to two women who drove from Memphis.

"One has a ticket to tonight's concert, the other one doesn't," he said.

Are you a Springfield fan? What do you love about him?

11:45 a.m.

Rick Braswell, 45, of Cape Girardeau, just donated game-used autographed baseball cards for tonight's auction — Cal Ripken Jr. and Lou Brock are a couple names. There's a game-used bat card from Jackie Robinson. Bidding starts at $25 per card, others start higher, he said.

I asked why he made the donation today.

"Good cause. Helping children with cancer is a good cause," he said. His friend Robert Floyd, of Cape Girardeau, told him about today's benefit.

11:58 a.m.

People are getting a little more animated — and louder. The line arcs around the store and Springfield has just arrived to applause and "woo woo"s.

He is relaxed and tanned, wearing dark sunglasses, and slips into the back room for a few moments before sliding into a chair behind the table set up for the meet-and-greet.

Timexx Nasty, front man for the Cape band Drivin' Rain, just bought the DVD "Live in Rockford" and joined the line of autograph seekers.

Noon

It's only minutes before Springfield gives up his seat, to stand on the other side of the table, posing with various fans after autographing his CDs or other memorabilia.

Sahara's mom, Amy Aldridge, is standing next to me, looking fabulous and doing what she calls "a labor of love."

Visiting the horse therapy program — Rick's first trip there — was amazing, she said.

"Rick got to see what it's all about with kids and parents, there were at least 100 people out there. It was super," she said.

12:05 p.m.

Matty Spindel, of Los Angeles, Springfield's front-of-house mixer, — he says that's a glorified name for "sound man" — is watching the line and Rick, and talking about visiting Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship.

"it was really pretty great to see all the kids coming alive as soon as they got on the horses. Big smiles on their faces, coming out of their shells, and the amazing people that work there. This sounds serious, but when you're around so many people doing so many crappy things, politicians who say so many untrue things, and then you see these great people (volunteers) it's really great," he said, with a huge smile on his face. "It shows that when people have a chance to do good things, they do it.'

He said he's been working for Springfield for a decade.

"Rick is an absolute doll," he said, as Springfield signs Grant Hecht's Palmer guitar.

12:10 p.m.

I mention to Matty a fan has brought a small dog into the store. He tells me Springfield loves dogs. Loves them. I don't think he's seen it yet.

Allycen Farnsworth, of Layton, Utah, came specifically for the benefit. She met the Aldridge family in 2001 in Las Vegas. "It's like a big family," she said.

12:16 p.m.
Peg MacDougall, feeling the effects flu, is here with her camera for those who didn't bring one. I hope you people post your photos on our website and share the joy :)

Amy Aldridge tells me Spindel won a Grammy for sound engineering Santana's "Supernatural." How cool is that?

Spindel tells me he started working for Springfield as a temporary four-month assignment.

"I was there literally from the first day," he said. "I 'knew' it was going to be a very short thing. Then it turned into this."

Another smile from him. I ask what the highlight of the Sahara Aldridge experience was and he says "Sahara herself."

"This morning was hard. There was a picture of Sahara on the wall of the barn," he said. "I found myself walking by without looking at it."

But there's a lot of joy here. happy people celebrating lives of those they loved, including Sahara.

A fan has just said something inaudible to Springfield and he rocks back with laughter. I'll be speaking with him in a moment.

12:28 p.m.

I've been hearing people talk about Springfield like he's a hometown boy and I ask him about this sense of relationship.

"If ever I have a home away from home, it's Cape Girardeau," he said, a trace of Australian accent flavoring the words.

What about his visit to Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship?

"Oh, it was overwhelming, seeing all these kids lighting up when they get around the horses," he said. "I'm a great animal lover... to see these kids who all have some kind of challenge, [reacting] when they get around the horses, it's just goes to show you there's more going on then we know."

"I'm really happy to be here," he said. "I loved Sahara deeply and still do. Her spirit's still around. I come here to give her a hug."

Talk about a human touch.

Eric Karlish, PMac store manager, gives a last call for autographs and a woman customer and Paul MacDougall step up.

Karlish said he thinks he took 50 or 60 photos; the crowd estimate is close to 150. Many people shared camera duties.

"I've done so many meet-and-greets. I know what it's all about," he said. "I don't know how many we sold, I was too busy snapping pictures. I lost track of time. It felt like it went longer than it actually went."

Judging from what Paul MacDougall is telling me about sales, you might see Rick Springfield in all five positions of the SE Live Top 5.

Terry and Pattany Nations, of Perryville, just arrived after getting a sitter for their twin 5-and-a-half month-old girls.

"My sister-in-law and brother went to his concert (last night) at the St. Charles Family Arena," Pattany said. The Nations, saw Springfield's December 2006 concert at the Show Me Center. But they can't go tonight — parenting duty calls.

She decides to buy the "We are the 80s" CD anyway.

Paul MacDougall makes a suggestion. Since he's going to the show, he'll get it autographed and send it to the couple.

Tonight, the city of Delta hosts a public hearing on the proposed water and sewer rate increase. The city will hear comments at 7 p.m. at the Delta Community Center , 211 E. State St. City hall is inside the community center.

Apparently fall is just not a good season for Wall Street. If the breaking news reports are any indication, the stock market is imploding.