It was thrilling and exciting for me and my late mother Johanna to give the firsthand account of the "back story" behind the "cult classic" song "Linda-Linda" which is credited to my father, musician, singer, actor and composer, Samir Al-Tawil. The twists and turns in the back story of this song are so outrageous though that it's almost impossible to spell it all out, but I believe we succeeded and the account in "Delftse Toeren 2" by Jimmy Tigges should indeed be an eye opener to any around the world who loved the song but wondered and fantasized about the identity of the fabled "Linda."
When I was growing up, I was a "star" in my own right. I was simply "Aziza" the only child performer in the professional NYC bellydance scene and, after my mother's friend, a Greek American belly dancer, decided in the late 60's not to go by a dance name of "Aziza," I was the only "Aziza" in the New York City area for years. Truth is, my father cheated me out of his last name, acknowledging me only when he needed something from me years later. He knew I was a belly dancer and making money as a teen.
Anyway, the story of my father Samir Al-Tawil, my mother, belly dance star Johanna, and me, their daughter Aziza, is also about to be shared in depth by belly dance expert and writer Shira.
They say, "the truth sets us free." I believe that is indeed the case. My father left a lot of very disappointed and sad people in his wake who spent years licking their wounds. Many, like my mother and I, were "humiliated" by Samir even though we were certainly not "hindered." Johanna was a success before she ever met Samir, and I was a success as a performer without any input from him whatsoever. After our horrendous experience with him we indeed "rallied on."
I do believe that there are some things that are picked up in genes, and some things are "learned."So, in that respect, I do believe I got "artistic" genes from both my parents in dancing, singing, and acting, etc. but it was my mother Johanna that nurtured me into full flower as a human being.
The first link below is to my interview about "Linda-Linda" segment for "Delftse Toeren TV." (Also, I got to mention briefly the unrequited passion that shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis had for my mother. More on that coming soon!).
(My father Samir Al-Tawil's "Linda-Linda" recording)
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| (My mother Johanna in her prime) |
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| (Me performing at The Parthenon in Houston at age one) |
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| (Me in the costume that Salah Abou Seif loved) |
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| (The Dutch rock band "The Tee Set" with their cover of "Linda-Linda") |