Q. Why did you make this site?
A. Back in 1996, when I first got a computer, I was amazed and saddened to see that there was next to nothing about Bobby Darin on the web.I had loved Bobby since I was 12 and wanted to do something for him, but I wasn't sure what. I was always in awe of my friend Mary Spooner's website tributes and was wanting to do the same for Bobby, but I wasn't sure how to go about it.
In early 1997,with the beginning of unlimited internet access (thank God for that, some of you may remember the old days of paying by the hour...it was awful! ) I was seriously considering making a page about Bobby. I communicated with a man named Michael in California and a woman named Liz in NJ by email about starting some kind of a page for Bobby. We weren't really sure how to go about it. Michael and I could not find Bobby's son, Dodd but we both emailed Nik Venet ( Bobby's friend and producer) and he seemed very excited about our idea. I lost contact with Michael ( I still hear from Liz occasionally) as we were both busy with work in the spring of 1997.
In the summer of 1997, I decided to go ahead and give this
my best shot. I bought a scanner for my old Power Mac
to scan my collection of pictures of Bobby.
Using AOL's "Personal Publisher" I made a small page for Bobby.
I showed it to Nik Venet by email and he was very pleased with it. Then I wanted to do more, like my friend Mary was doing. I found some space on Geocities and learned HTML. "The Legendary Bobby Darin" website was officially launched August 7, 1997.
I was not aware that Mr. Venet was very ill that fall, and when he passed away in Jan. 1998, I knew I needed to keep up the site. It was very much a labor of love in progress, as I was learning what and what not to do.( I am still learning.) I wanted to make something special for Bobby, so I kept adding things like movie reviews and a discography and lots of pictures. My goal was to make the site as educational as possible as well as a site for fans to share their love for Bobby.
In the fall of 1998, the webmaster of the Johnny Mercer site contacted me, telling me Harriet Wasser, Bobby's dear friend wanted to call me. I was so thrilled! She was wonderful. Then I was suddenly in contact with Steve Blauner, Bobby's friend and former manager and Dodd Darin. This made me very happy and also relieved , knowing I was doing a good job. When the PBS documentary, "Beyond the Song" premiered in Dec. 1998, the site really took off. I was lucky enough to obtain the domain name of BobbyDarin.net ( which was reimbursed to me by Dodd and several fans ) which I feel honored and privileged
to be using.
In 1999, my friend Donna Carter and I purchased the domain name bobbydarin.com and hope we are putting it to good use.
Sometimes I am asked HOW to make a site...I would suggest starting with an online editor,
like at geocities or some of the free
downloadable HTML editors at
Hotfiles.com. Before you know it, you will get the hang of HTML. A good site
on the web to learn is HTML Goodies.com,
which has a lot of free web authoring tuturials. And you can't beat the View = Source trick
to see HTML coding on a website. Nowadays I just use Windows Notepad to make a page, but
there are many better and easier methods out there. This is just what works
best for me.
Also, please do not get the idea I am an expert on Bobby...I am just a fan,
an ordinary working stiff like most of you. Obsessed?? Maybe, a
little... I did
notice that after the death of my dad in 1997 the site became a big focus
in my life...especially since he died of heart problems. Also,
from Sept 1997 to Jan. 1998, I lost not only my dad ,but
a close friend in a road accident and an Aunt. It was a trying time.
That is not a remark
to invoke pity, but to help you understand that the site and Mr. Darin have somehow
filled a void in my life and it is something I enjoy doing for Bobby. I just want everyone
to know how wonderful Bobby was and he should be appreciated. His
music and his legacy has inspired me through some rough times.
And finally, although this was the first website devoted to Bobby, it
certainly should not be the only one. ( Please check out
these sites.)
I encourage any fan, such as I, to
make a website about Bobby. The more the better as far as BD goes.
Over the years, the website has grown to the point where I needed help. The website team continues to update, make new pages, answer questions and anything else that needs to
be done in order to keep Bobby's legacy alive.
bobbydarin.net/bobbydarin.com, All Rights Reserved.