Friends, collaborators, and members of the music community have posted a public plea to anyone knowing information on the whereabouts of beloved singer-songwriter Linda Perhacs.
The statement, written by Perhac’s former manager Laurel Stearns, claims that the 82-year-old songwriter was discharged from a residential care facility eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian. Perhac’s friends and collaborators state that they haven’t been able to contact Perhacs nor her guardian. In an Instagram post alongside a photo of the singer, Stearns wrote, “LINDA PERHACS FANS, WE NEED YOUR HELP. LINDA HAS GONE MISSING.”
The release itself states that at “this time, those issuing this statement are not alleging wrongdoing,” adding, “Rather, they are seeking confirmation that Linda is safe, well, and receiving appropriate care, while expressing concern over the prolonged absence of communication with a beloved public figure.”
Perhacs is best known for 1970’s Parallelograms, recorded when she was a dental hygienist. It went overlooked for years until it received renewed appreciation in the late-Nineties, gaining her a cult audience who regards the album as a lost psychedelic folk classic. She released her comeback album The Soul of All Natural Things in 2014, followed by I’m a Harmony three years later.
In an email sent to Rolling Stone, writer Jessica Hundley claimed that Perhacs had been living at the care facility for several years, struggling with dementia. “We have called elder care and filed several police reports and have now retained a private investigator to help in finding her,” she wrote.
Stearns also provided her email, [email protected], for any verified information that can help locate Perhacs. “The intention is not to intrude upon her privacy,” she wrote, “but simply to ensure that she is safe and to re-establish communication with someone whose artistic contributions continue to resonate across generations.”
