The Northwest Voice

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Psst, Northwest Bakersfield residents … did you know that an actual Ding-a-Ling lives here?

No, no — not that kind of ding-a-ling. A Ding-a-Ling Sister from “The Dean Martin Show!”

Though she’s kept a pretty low profile over her years in Kern County — six in the NW and another eight living in the Lake Isabella area — Lindsay Bloom Nutter is enjoying a resurgence of her dancing and singing career after recently reuniting with Michelle DellaFave, a fellow “Ding Sister.”

DellaFave was one of the original Golddiggers on “The Dean Martin Show,” which later morphed into the spin-off group, The Ding-a-Ling Sisters, the group of gals who danced, sang and shared the comedy spotlight with Martin. Nutter received a call from DellaFave last fall, offering her another opportunity of a lifetime.

“Michelle told me that the VA (Veterans Administration) wanted us to perform at the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Wall, that we needed to put together a 1⁄2-hour singing and dancing routine and we’d perform at the foot of the Washington Monument for Veterans Day,” Nutter said. “Oh, and then she told me that we’d have about a week to get our act together, and we’d go on right after the group Grand Funk Railroad — the whole thing was surreal!”

Nutter hopped a plane to Florida — where DellaFave lives — and the pair whipped up the old magic and, within days, formed their new routine and their new identity, Blue Eyed Soul, managed by Wes Guidry.

The dynamic duo sang, danced and wowed ‘em in Washington DC with many of the vets fondly recalling “The Dean Martin Show.” Some had even met DellaFave during USO tours she went on during the Vietnam War era.

For Nutter — who had been a stay-at-home mom — it was 35-plus years later, but like the “riding a bike” adage, it all came back. But this time, something is different, according to Nutter.

“It was just a blast,” she said of performing once again. “But performing for veterans has brought it to a whole new level — we were able to visit these people in Walter Reed (Army Medical Center), sign autographs, give out CDs and pray with them — I love praying with these veterans.”

Nutter is proof positive that timing is everything.

After an international tour as Miss American Beauty (for the Miss International contest) in 1972, the Nebraska native had only been home from Japan a mere week when she found out about a dance audition in Hollywood. Since dance was her winning pageant talent, Nutter figured, “Why not?”

Nutter’s mother, a Ginger Rogers fan, had always supported her daughter’s dancing talents and made sure she had lessons as she grew up.

Those dance lessons paid off — and then some. Nutter went to that audition and landed her first gig as a Ding-a-Ling Sister on Martin’s hit comedy-variety.

As a Ding, Nutter had many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like the time she tap-danced with Sammy Davis Jr., i.e. THE Sammy Davis Jr. or when she performed with Martin on stage in Las Vegas.

“It was incredible,” she said of her run as a Ding.

Dean Martin died on Christmas Day, 1995, at the age of 78. Nutter recalled calling up the other “Dings” and having a good cry by phone at the loss of the beloved Rat Packer.

“He was a dear friend and his passing was the closing of an era,” she said.

After “The Dean Martin Show” ended in 1974, Nutter went on to enjoy a successful acting career.

Among her “Lindsay Bloom” credits:

• “Velda,” the beautiful brunette secretary to super sleuth “Mike Hammer,” played by actor Stacy Keach.

• “Mabel,” the cheeky telephone operator on “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

• “Bonnie,” the girlfriend of Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly) on “Dallas.”

• Numerous guest appearances on “Laverne & Shirley,” “Starsky & Hutch,” and “Sanford.”

• She also participated in “Circus of the Stars” and once appeared as a celebrity player on the game show, “Super Password,” where she solved every puzzle for an entire week!

These days, Nutter may be back on the road with Blue Eyed Soul — in early May, she and DellaFave traveled to Anchorage, Alaska and performed for more veterans and the Gold Star Mothers, mothers who have lost a son or daughter while serving in the Armed Forces; and Memorial Day weekend, the pair returned to Washington DC for another veterans show — but she also remains grounded right here in NW Bakersfield with her husband of 28 years, Mayf Nutter and their three children, Chase, 20; Sage, 18; and Haylee, 14.

The entertainment world is quite familiar to Mayf Nutter, a West Virginia boy, as well. He’s an actor-singer-songwriter, a Country Music Hall of Fame honoree and has appeared on “Gunsmoke,” “The Waltons,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Knots Landing.” He also continues to perform at country music festivals.

The Nutter kids have been involved in the Performing Arts and also sing, write songs and play guitar — helping out the worship band at Grace Assembly of God Church.

“I always like to say, ‘My kids have been my best productions yet,’” said their proud mother during a cell phone interview in between graduation errands — Sage Nutter walked across the Centennial High field Thursday, May 29 as part of the Class of 2008. “It’s been interesting to watch the gene pool take shape — they’re great kids.”

For the Nutters, their family claim to fame is kept at a minimum.

“We keep a pretty low profile,” said Mayf Nutter.

His wife agreed.

“Not too many people know about it,” Lindsay Nutter said of their entertainment careers. “I’ve shared some of my veteran stories with our ladies church group (Grace Assembly of God) and they’ve enjoyed that.”

—  Next up for the Nutters: Lindsay will speak at a future Pro 31 Christian businesswomen’s group meeting at the Petroleum Club and heads to South Carolina in July for another veterans show by Blue Eyed Soul; Mayf is booked for the “Jamboree in the Hills” music festival in Ohio, also in July.

— To learn more about these Northwest Bakersfield residents’ entertainment careers, go to:
www.michelleandlindsay.com
www.angelfire.com/music4/mayfnutter/