Page A6 • March 7, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers Thelma Camacho was there for Kenny Rogers & The First Edition; helped propel the superstar

By Harvey Kahn

t was 19-year-old Thelma Ca - macho who bravely took the stage for Kenny Rogers and thIe First Edition in their first live television performance in 1967 on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Show. With Kenny Rogers stand - ing in the background playing bass guitar and singing harmony, the young Camacho stood solo as she belted out the song, "I Get A Funny Feeling." It was a very dif - ficult song, more of a Julie An - drews number opposed to the psychedelic sound the viewing au - dience expected. The fact of the matter was that Camacho was the only member of The First Edition who was equipped to stand alone before millions of television view - ers. Camacho spent four years with Kenny Rogers before Kenny Rogers was Kenny Rogers. He fi - nanced The First Edition when it split from the New Christy Min - strels, beginning his own career in the entertainment industry that PHOTO CO URTESY /R EPRISE RECORDS eventually rivaled the best. Al - though going on to earn a success - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition in 1968. From (L) Mike Settle, Terry Williams, Thelma Camacho, and Kenny Rogers. ful life for herself and family, Camacho would not be around for Rogers' greater fame and fortune. into such a superstar. Yes!" said terribly disappointed when I joined to gigs or missed rehearsals as for Bavaria Film Studios in Ger - Talking by phone from her jewelry Camacho. a pop band. Especially since I claimed by former band member many. Thelma Camacho Jewelry manufacturing headquarters in "When we started The First Edi - turned down a scholarship to study Mickey Jones, who said that Ca - is currently distributed in Spain, Chula Vista, Camacho said she tion, Kenny was 30 and the rest of opera in Milan," said Camacho. macho was fired. In his book, Beverly Hills and throughout San still owns one-fourth of The First us (Mike Settle, Terry Williams) With Kenny Rogers and The With Luck or Something Like It, Diego County. Her cousin is cur - Edition. She penned about six of were much younger. We were all First Edition, Camacho was able to Rogers wrote that Camacho was rently compiling 60 years worth of the group's songs but said she to share the lead vocals. It was not fulfill her childhood dream of ap - let go because she had fallen in her songs on CD. She said that she could not comment further. Cama - to be just Kenny. But Kenny was pearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, love, was tired of touring and per - has not performed since 1991, but cho appeared on the first three al - ambitious. Pushy. A good talker. once the top TV variety show in haps didn't agree with certain de - did not rule out singing smooth bums by The First Edition. See He was the promoter and we were the world. She also appeared with cisions. Rogers said the split jazz in the future. Camacho was Youtube: I get a funny feeling/the young and didn't realize the things the group on the shows of Red "didn't come as a shock or disap - also signed to Casablanca Records first edition. that he knew. We thought, OK, if Skelton, Johnny Cash, Andy pointment to her." in 1980-81 at the same time as Camacho was not included with he wants to do all the talking. Let Williams and Mike Douglas. But Camacho responded that she Donna Summer. Camacho admits other members of The First Edi - him talk. Hey, I was actually get - with all the adulation and popular - did not agree with Roger's expla - that she has forgotten a lot of her tion in a 2012 television tribute to ting paid to sing," said Camacho. ity of The First Edition, Camacho nation. "I have no animosity or ha - past. Kenny Rogers for his 50 years in Her years spent as a opera started feeling the stage shrinking. tred. I got married and had a young If Camacho had a downside, it the recording business. Camacho singer showed in her polished pre - Rogers needed more room. She son. I didn't want that lifestyle. It's was that she was too finished for said she "probably will not attend" sentations. At 14, Camacho was knew she was doomed immedi - cut throat and full of back stab - the pop music scene. As a folk a Kenny Rogers show near her already fronting the San Diego ately after the 1968 Ed Sullivan bing. I received enormous adula - singer she was on par with Joan home on March 21, when Rogers Civic Light Opera and by 16, she Show date. "Ed Sullivan intro - tion from The First Edition. I Baez and much smoother than appears at the Belly Up Tavern in was singing in Italian on numbers duced us as Thelma and the Boys always wish Kenny well. We had Janis Joplin or Grace Slick. While Solana Beach. She last saw Rogers written by Mozart, Verdi and and then Sullivan asked me to sing our differences but I think all the 74-year-old Kenny Rogers 22-years ago when he visited she Bellini. Since she was 3, her par - a solo. The curtain dropped behind members of bands do." reached unquestioned milestones, and her husband, executive pro - ents groomed her to tackle the op - me and the band was behind the She later moved to Europe where it's still not too late for an operati - ducer Robert Ivie when they lived eratic classics, not the classics of curtain. I knew I was through," ex - she and Ivie collaborated on com - cally trained singer in her mid- in Dusseldorf, Germany. "Did I Janis Joplin or Mick Jagger. plained Camacho. mercials, sound tracks, and videos. 60's. think Kenny Rogers would grow "Needless to say, my parents were Camacho said she never was late She designed fashion and jewelry

Scouts can earn badges at County Giant rummage sale this Saturday, March Museum workshops 9th, from 7am to 4pm f Frank Grouard is not the The Boy Scouts can earn Mammal [email protected]. at San Bernardino County Mu - Study, Bird Study, Geology and In - The San Bernardino County Mu - Grace Lutheran Church seum offers badge workshops dian Lore Merit Badges. The In - seum is at the California Street exit 539 N. Acacia Ave. foIr Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and dian Lore Merit badge workshop is from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The Rialto Relay for Life Fundraiser hosted by Grace Brownie Girl Scouts. This spring, scheduled for March 9th. Museum museum is open Tuesdays through scouts have a variety of opportuni - staff members leading the Merit Sundays from 9 am to 5pm. Gen - Lutheran Church and our local Scouts pack, ties to earn a badge while having Badge workshops are qualified to eral admission is $8 (adult), $6 troop, and crew. All proceeds will go to the fun at the museum. All of the mu - sign the required Blue Card. (military or senior), $5 (student), American Cancer Society. seums’ scout badge workshops in - Cub Scouts can earn a variety of and $4 (child aged 5 to 12). Chil - clude take home projects, engaging badges, from history to animals to dren under five and Museum Asso - activities, and everything needed to geology. The Bears Indian Life ciation members are admitted free. complete all the requirements to badge workshop will be offered on Parking is free. For more informa - earn a badge. March 9th. Brownie girl scouts can tion, visit www.sb countymu - “We have retooled our programs earn their Bugs Badge during the seum.org. The museum is WORK FROM and are excited to offer a new set of popular spring Insectival event, accessible to persons with disabili - workshops to the scouting commu - coming on April 13. ties. If assistive listening devices or nity,” said Jolene Redvale, curator Parents are encouraged to print a other auxiliary aids areneeded in HOME of education. “Scouts enjoy our workshop registration form from order to participate in museum ex - Open your heart and your workshops because they are laid the museum’s website, hibits or programs, requests should home as a care provider and receive payment for back but still engaging. When they http://www.sbcounty.gov/mu - be made through Museum Visitor services. If you have an extra bedroom and would learn with real artifacts and speci - seum/discover/divisions/educa - Services at least three business days mens, the subject comes alive and tion/scout.htm. For more prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ like to care for an adult with Developmental Dis - they remember more of what they information, contact Jolene Red - telephone number is 909-307-2669 abilities did while they were here.” vale at ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462. Please call Maria Mora (909) 948-7554.