Charles

       I will start by saying that I am a huge fan of Tiffany!  How did I become such a big devotee' of Tiff you might ask?  Here we go with the answer!

       It all started back in early 1989 when I heard her for the first time. Oh yes, I vaguely remember hearing her sing "I Think We're Alone Now", but never really got the bug. (It was only later that I started truly appreciating "ITWAN" and others.) No, it wasn't until I heard "All This Time" on the radio that I really listened to her; and I instantaneously fell in love with that voice! I remember thinking to myself, "I just have to find out who this goddess is, and if she could possibly look as good as this unbelievably sexy voice would suggest!" (Please remember that I was 12 at the time!) When I saw the video for this song for the first time at a friend's house a few weeks later, I nearly keeled over! What an absolute babe! I am 23 now, and I still feel the same way!

       Alas, there was a problem. All of my friends and I were just getting into all the "WAY COOL" music such as Poison, White Lion, Def Leppard, Ratt, etc., (All good groups of course), but it would not have been a good idea for me publicly at that time to say, "Hey guys, get into this!" Also back then, I felt embarrassed to go to the record store and say "I want my Tiffany NOW!" It simply would not have worked. (Obviously that has changed today!) So I had to settle for calling in to radio stations, requesting anything Tiff, then recording off of the radio like crazy, hoping they would listen to me! Finally, I snagged "All This Time". (Amazingly, I was going through some old tapes and actually found this original!)

        Well, the days turned into months, which turned into years--and with the passing of time the winds of change blew through my musical life. I have played keyboards since I was six, and have always had a love for keyboard-based music. I moved on to more technically-advanced groups like Savatage and Leatherwolf, yet always yearned for a balance in my musical collection. I didn't know what the secret was! Then, in about 1995, it finally all came together for me! It finally hit me that music is music, and it doesn't have to be from a specific genre to be good; it should stand on it's own and be judged, not grouped together! (I think that I always had known this, but still doggedly held fast to the common notion that if it isn't fast or hard, it wasn't cool!) I finally said to myself, "Man Charles, enough is enough; your days of missing out on a lot of good music are over!"

         Now, with the blinders off, I really branched out and started experiencing music I would never have touched before, music that now I really could not do without! Everything, from getting back to my roots in classical music, to jazz, to pop, to rock! I found my collection now including everything from Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, to Brahms and Mozart, to a terrific English Band named Marillion and an Italian symphonic band named Rhapsody! (Pretty wacky, eh?)

         And then it happened, almost completely be accident. It was early 1998, and I had almost forgotten all of those feelings I previously had for Tiffany. Remember, it had been over nine years! I was just flipping through the satellite guide, and saw a movie: it was The Jetsons! I said to myself, "Cool, I will check this out". I once again almost had cardiac arrest when I found out who was Judy! I said, "NO WAY!" All of those feelings and emotions immediately rushed back; and when I heard those songs--WHEW! The world completely stopped for me during that flick. My heart was racing! So it was really this event that got me back into Tiff. Now I have tons of her stuff, from her four c.d.'s, to the Jetsons Soundtrack, to a 3" c.d. single, to 45's, to many other items. I can unabashedly say that I believe that she is indeed my favorite female artist of the last 15 years, and definitely top five ever! Not just for her wonderful voice and gorgeous looks, but also because of her sweet personality, and just her overall package--you just cannot beat it!

         I have been both pleased and honored to have contributed my story to my good friend Erik's terrific website. All website owners out there certainly can understand that it takes a lot of time, effort, and sweat in order to create and maintain and continually update a site; Erik and Thomas have both done a terrific job--my hat is off to both of you for making the Tiffany scene that much brighter. And the same goes for all of the other Tiffany sites--to Roger, April, John, Glen and everyone else--thank you, and keep the fire burning!  Together, we will keep Tiff alive and well until she does make her big comeback! I believe it will happen; you cannot keep a voice like that down forever!

         So on that happy note, I will bid adieu.

                          Sincerely,

                                      Charles Hefti Jr.
                                          Saint Louis, MO (September 14th, 1999)

P.S.   Tiffany, if by some weird chance you read this, please let me echo the sentiments of your many loyal fans in saying, "Please put out a new album!"