Lynda Carter: forever Wonder Woman — but always a singer as well

Lynda Carter comes to the Phil for four shows today and Friday.

Lynda Carter says she learned early in her career how to treat fans.

The actress and singer famous for her Wonder Woman television show recalled attending a party with her mother in the 1970s. Her mom saw actor George Peppard and wanted to get his autograph.

When Peppard saw her mom had no pen or paper, the now-deceased actor launched into an expletive-laced tirade, Carter said.

"It taught me something. It took some courage for my mother to go up there to say hello and she was humiliated," said Carter, who performs concerts at the Naples Philharmonic tonight and Friday.

"I just vowed, as long as I can help it, I'll never do it. It takes a lot more effort to be negative or nasty. It takes a lot more effort to be a jerk."

Carter, 60, these days sings, in her deep alto jazz style, more than she acts. She released a CD titled "Crazy Little Things" last summer. It features Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," the Motown classic "Heatwave," Peter, Paul and Mary's "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

"It has kind of all my favorite songs from the '80s and stuff that we are familiar with," she said.

Her band includes mainly studio musicians from Nashville, such as guitarist Kerry Marx, keyboardist Pat Coil and saxophonist "Blue Lou" Marini, who toured with the Blues Brothers back in the day.

"We have a riot on the stage," she said. "For me, it's just an absolute blast. I'm so proud to work with them. I'm thrilled. I love every one of them."

Carter sang as a child growing up in Arizona and continued her love of music. She ventured on her own before returning home.

"I was on the road out of high school and sang professionally," she said. "When other kids went to football games, I was in a club singing."

Carter received national fame in 1972, when she won the Miss World USA pageant. She moved to New York to take acting classes and eventually appeared on TV shows including "Starsky and Hutch."

She landed the lead role for "The New Original Wonder Woman" in 1975 and realizes she's forever linked to that role, which Carter said she embraces — especially after her mother's experience with Peppard.

"I learned so many years ago that people, when they come up to you, they just want to relate," Carter said.

"I talk to strangers in elevators. I'm a very sort of corny person anyway. I'll talk to people I don't know. I really do enjoy it."

Carter recalled many stories of people recognizing her as she would go through airport security.

"I'll get some lady come up to me and put my arms around me and hugs me and brings all their girlfriends over," she said. "In some way in their life, they related to Wonder Woman. It becomes some currency with their friends.

"You're identified so closely with the character that made you famous, kind of an idealized version of a human being."

Carter reflected on a career that helped nurture friendships with the likes of Michael Jackson and Ray Charles.

She remembered how, when she once sang with Charles — who was legally blind — and how "he kept grabbing on my wrist." To determine how attractive a woman was, Charles would stroke her wrist.

Actor Jamie Foxx won a Best Actor Academy Award for portraying Charles in the 2004 film "Ray."

Carter said she understood when she saw the film.

"I said, 'He did that to me,' " Carter said, laughing.

Carter said she'll continue to tour because she enjoys performing.

"What else are you going to do? You can only play golf so much, so you can only play tennis so much," she said.

"I always prefer what I'm doing at the moment. At the moment I'm doing mostly music."

Carter said she doesn't know whether Wonder Woman will make it to the big screen, as other comic book heroes such as Spider-Man, Batman and Iron Man have in recent years.

She said she'd like to see another actress play Wonder Woman.

"Then there comes a point when you can't play the role," Carter said. "It would be nice (to see a new Wonder Woman) at some point. I don't know why they can't remake her."

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