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He Works With Divas, but Didn’t Marry One He Works With Divas, but Didn’t Marry One
(about 4 hours later)
The weekend leading to the marriage of Fred Nelson III and Lynda Cartwright on Christmas Eve was frantic with mad-dash details amid holiday hoopla, but it could have been worse. Credit Aretha Franklin for lowering the stress level.The weekend leading to the marriage of Fred Nelson III and Lynda Cartwright on Christmas Eve was frantic with mad-dash details amid holiday hoopla, but it could have been worse. Credit Aretha Franklin for lowering the stress level.
Mr. Nelson, Ms. Franklin’s musical conductor since 2011, had expected to be dispatched to Detroit from his hometown, Chicago, just before Christmas to handle the music for her annual holiday party, a lavish event that included a performance by the Four Tops. Winter weather in Detroit and Chicago made the prospect of flying so close to his wedding day risky. But Mr. Nelson, 58, wouldn’t have missed it if Ms. Franklin had insisted he be there. (She didn’t.)Mr. Nelson, Ms. Franklin’s musical conductor since 2011, had expected to be dispatched to Detroit from his hometown, Chicago, just before Christmas to handle the music for her annual holiday party, a lavish event that included a performance by the Four Tops. Winter weather in Detroit and Chicago made the prospect of flying so close to his wedding day risky. But Mr. Nelson, 58, wouldn’t have missed it if Ms. Franklin had insisted he be there. (She didn’t.)
“To me, Aretha Franklin is the crème de la crème,” said Mr. Nelson, who has worked as producer, conductor, arranger or pianist for many big-name singers, including Jennifer Hudson, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. “They don’t make many like her. So when you get the call to work with her you feel like, ‘Wow, I must have done something right,’” “To me, Aretha Franklin is the crème de la crème,” said Mr. Nelson, who has worked as producer, conductor, arranger or pianist for many big-name singers, including Jennifer Hudson, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. “They don’t make many like her. So when you get the call to work with her you feel like, ‘Wow, I must have done something right.’”
His devotion to his notoriously hard-to-please current boss, whom he has accompanied most places her tour bus has taken her since he was hired in 2011 (he was dismissed in 2013, then rehired in 2016), did not come at the expense of his fiancée or their celebration. Though Ms. Franklin performed several sold-out shows across the country alongside Mr. Nelson in 2017, he found time to figure out all the major components of the couple’s wedding at New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, Ill. Mr. Nelson is the musical director there; Ms. Cartwright sings in the choir.His devotion to his notoriously hard-to-please current boss, whom he has accompanied most places her tour bus has taken her since he was hired in 2011 (he was dismissed in 2013, then rehired in 2016), did not come at the expense of his fiancée or their celebration. Though Ms. Franklin performed several sold-out shows across the country alongside Mr. Nelson in 2017, he found time to figure out all the major components of the couple’s wedding at New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, Ill. Mr. Nelson is the musical director there; Ms. Cartwright sings in the choir.
“I haven’t had to worry about planning anything,” said Ms. Cartwright, 51, a human resources professional who is twice divorced. “Fred has a background as a producer, so he’s good at productions.”“I haven’t had to worry about planning anything,” said Ms. Cartwright, 51, a human resources professional who is twice divorced. “Fred has a background as a producer, so he’s good at productions.”
Mr. Nelson “handled almost everything,” she said, from securing the church and its pastor, Dr. Trunell D. Felder, to marry them on Christmas Eve, a particularly busy day, to lining up the wedding’s gospel and R&B music performances, which left few dry eyes among the pews.Mr. Nelson “handled almost everything,” she said, from securing the church and its pastor, Dr. Trunell D. Felder, to marry them on Christmas Eve, a particularly busy day, to lining up the wedding’s gospel and R&B music performances, which left few dry eyes among the pews.
Ms. Cartwright and Mr. Nelson met, fittingly, over a piano in 2015 — one she was trying to get rid of. “Fred had just started as music director at the church, and I had this grand piano I was looking to sell,” she said.Ms. Cartwright and Mr. Nelson met, fittingly, over a piano in 2015 — one she was trying to get rid of. “Fred had just started as music director at the church, and I had this grand piano I was looking to sell,” she said.
Though the Nelson name was prominent in Chicago music circles — he started performing at age 6, playing piano as an opener for Ray Charles, and his father, Fred Nelson Jr., helped shape the city’s gospel sound in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s as the organist at First Church of Deliverance — she knew nothing of Mr. Nelson’s background.Though the Nelson name was prominent in Chicago music circles — he started performing at age 6, playing piano as an opener for Ray Charles, and his father, Fred Nelson Jr., helped shape the city’s gospel sound in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s as the organist at First Church of Deliverance — she knew nothing of Mr. Nelson’s background.
Still, she felt intimidated by his job at the church because of its importance. New Faith, which seats 2,500, is home to six choirs. “One day I saw him walking down the hall, and I was going back and forth in my mind,” she said. “‘Should I tell him about the piano?’” If there was anyone who might know of a buyer, she thought, it would be Mr. Nelson. “I finally got the nerve to ask him directly.”Still, she felt intimidated by his job at the church because of its importance. New Faith, which seats 2,500, is home to six choirs. “One day I saw him walking down the hall, and I was going back and forth in my mind,” she said. “‘Should I tell him about the piano?’” If there was anyone who might know of a buyer, she thought, it would be Mr. Nelson. “I finally got the nerve to ask him directly.”
She had a picture of the piano, bought for the eldest of her two sons, Dionte Cartwright, now the youth music conductor at New Faith. But Mr. Nelson wanted to see the Yamaha Grand Disklavier in person. They made loose plans to meet at her house in the Chicago suburb Homewood, at a time when Mr. Nelson’s chaotic schedule allowed. (In addition to his work with Ms. Franklin and at the church, he is an artistic director at the City of Matteson School District; music minister at First Church of Deliverance, where his father had played organ; and an independent producer, performer and arranger.)She had a picture of the piano, bought for the eldest of her two sons, Dionte Cartwright, now the youth music conductor at New Faith. But Mr. Nelson wanted to see the Yamaha Grand Disklavier in person. They made loose plans to meet at her house in the Chicago suburb Homewood, at a time when Mr. Nelson’s chaotic schedule allowed. (In addition to his work with Ms. Franklin and at the church, he is an artistic director at the City of Matteson School District; music minister at First Church of Deliverance, where his father had played organ; and an independent producer, performer and arranger.)
Ms. Cartwright got word one day while she was driving her son Kyle Hinton, then 16, to the orthodontist that Mr. Nelson would be at her house in 20 minutes.Ms. Cartwright got word one day while she was driving her son Kyle Hinton, then 16, to the orthodontist that Mr. Nelson would be at her house in 20 minutes.
“I raced to get home — I barely made it — and I was trying to act normal,” said Ms. Cartwright, who is curvy and petite. Mr. Nelson, 6 feet tall, barrel-chested and quick to laugh, put her at ease. “He was looking at the piano, and then we started talking about his daughter, who was having an H.R. problem at her job.”“I raced to get home — I barely made it — and I was trying to act normal,” said Ms. Cartwright, who is curvy and petite. Mr. Nelson, 6 feet tall, barrel-chested and quick to laugh, put her at ease. “He was looking at the piano, and then we started talking about his daughter, who was having an H.R. problem at her job.”
“I had also just lost 30 pounds, and I was in my exercise clothes,” she said. “He said he was diabetic, and I told him diabetes runs in my family, which was why I was exercising. He said he wanted to lose weight.”“I had also just lost 30 pounds, and I was in my exercise clothes,” she said. “He said he was diabetic, and I told him diabetes runs in my family, which was why I was exercising. He said he wanted to lose weight.”
Once Mr. Nelson left Homewood with a promise to be back in touch about the piano, Ms. Cartwright got curious: Did the turns their conversation had taken signal romantic interest?Once Mr. Nelson left Homewood with a promise to be back in touch about the piano, Ms. Cartwright got curious: Did the turns their conversation had taken signal romantic interest?
“Next time I went to the gym, where I have this crew of workout friends, I was like, ‘It seems like he’s trying to get a little more information.’ They were like, ‘He’s trying to ask you out!’ So next time I talked to him I said, ‘You need to find a workout partner,’” she said. “Fred said, ‘What about you? Will you be my life coach?’”“Next time I went to the gym, where I have this crew of workout friends, I was like, ‘It seems like he’s trying to get a little more information.’ They were like, ‘He’s trying to ask you out!’ So next time I talked to him I said, ‘You need to find a workout partner,’” she said. “Fred said, ‘What about you? Will you be my life coach?’”
It had been a while since Mr. Nelson, who was widowed in 2007, met someone he warmed to that quickly. His wife, Cynthia, had inflammatory breast cancer, a rare, aggressive form of the disease. They met as teenagers and had been married 22 years when she died. The couple’s only daughter, Paige Nelson, now 29, was finishing her freshman year in college. “That was a crazy time,” Mr. Nelson said.It had been a while since Mr. Nelson, who was widowed in 2007, met someone he warmed to that quickly. His wife, Cynthia, had inflammatory breast cancer, a rare, aggressive form of the disease. They met as teenagers and had been married 22 years when she died. The couple’s only daughter, Paige Nelson, now 29, was finishing her freshman year in college. “That was a crazy time,” Mr. Nelson said.
Friends remember it as a sad time. “It was a very tough period,” said Ira McKenzie, Mr. Nelson’s childhood best friend. “Fred is such a giving person. I would have to tell him, ‘Man, you cannot save everybody’s life.’”Friends remember it as a sad time. “It was a very tough period,” said Ira McKenzie, Mr. Nelson’s childhood best friend. “Fred is such a giving person. I would have to tell him, ‘Man, you cannot save everybody’s life.’”
Before he started dating Ms. Cartwright, who complements her soft-spoken persona with conservative dress and a huge, infectious smile, Mr. Nelson had been in another serious relationship. But something about Ms. Cartwright stood out.Before he started dating Ms. Cartwright, who complements her soft-spoken persona with conservative dress and a huge, infectious smile, Mr. Nelson had been in another serious relationship. But something about Ms. Cartwright stood out.
“She was pure,” he said, meaning she was unfamiliar with, and not much interested in, many of the music industry figures with whom Mr. Nelson rubs elbows. Valencia Edwards, a friend Ms. Cartwright met on the job at a Chicago pharmaceutical company years ago, recalled Ms. Cartwright asking her who Clive Davis was after she met the music producer at an event with Mr. Nelson. “She asked me if I had ever heard of this ‘Cleeve Davis’ everyone was making such a fuss over,” Ms. Edwards said, laughing.“She was pure,” he said, meaning she was unfamiliar with, and not much interested in, many of the music industry figures with whom Mr. Nelson rubs elbows. Valencia Edwards, a friend Ms. Cartwright met on the job at a Chicago pharmaceutical company years ago, recalled Ms. Cartwright asking her who Clive Davis was after she met the music producer at an event with Mr. Nelson. “She asked me if I had ever heard of this ‘Cleeve Davis’ everyone was making such a fuss over,” Ms. Edwards said, laughing.
Mr. McKenzie confirmed that Ms. Cartwright’s anti-diva attitude won his friend’s heart. The day the couple first met, “Fred called me as soon as he got in the car. He said, ‘I just met the sweetest girl,’” Mr. McKenzie said. “The thing about Lynda was, she’s grounded. She didn’t want anything from him. He said, ‘I think this girl is my friend.’ And I knew that was it. You have to be friends before you can be lovers.”Mr. McKenzie confirmed that Ms. Cartwright’s anti-diva attitude won his friend’s heart. The day the couple first met, “Fred called me as soon as he got in the car. He said, ‘I just met the sweetest girl,’” Mr. McKenzie said. “The thing about Lynda was, she’s grounded. She didn’t want anything from him. He said, ‘I think this girl is my friend.’ And I knew that was it. You have to be friends before you can be lovers.”
The couple had their first date on June 13, 2015. Mr. Nelson picked her up and took her to his favorite Chicago restaurant, Tavern on Rush, and she gave up her diet. “We had three appetizers and two entrees that night, and I loved it,” she said.The couple had their first date on June 13, 2015. Mr. Nelson picked her up and took her to his favorite Chicago restaurant, Tavern on Rush, and she gave up her diet. “We had three appetizers and two entrees that night, and I loved it,” she said.
“When I met Fred, my youngest son still had two years to go in high school,” Ms. Cartwright said. “I said, ‘I’m not going to date. I’ll wait.’ Because I wanted a storybook love affair.”“When I met Fred, my youngest son still had two years to go in high school,” Ms. Cartwright said. “I said, ‘I’m not going to date. I’ll wait.’ Because I wanted a storybook love affair.”
But after she and Mr. Nelson had gone on four dates, “he asked me if we could have a committed relationship,” she said. “I had read all these books about how to have a relationship, and there’s a process. I didn’t want it to happen so fast.”But after she and Mr. Nelson had gone on four dates, “he asked me if we could have a committed relationship,” she said. “I had read all these books about how to have a relationship, and there’s a process. I didn’t want it to happen so fast.”
Still, there was no denying she was falling in love.Still, there was no denying she was falling in love.
Ms. Edwards, her friend, picked up on it immediately. “I went out with them several times, and every time she talked to Fred she would use her LaToya Jackson-whisper voice,” she said. “It was all baby-sweetie. They took off so fast.”Ms. Edwards, her friend, picked up on it immediately. “I went out with them several times, and every time she talked to Fred she would use her LaToya Jackson-whisper voice,” she said. “It was all baby-sweetie. They took off so fast.”
Mr. McKenzie recalls the couple holding hands when he first met Ms. Cartwright. “I was like, man, you’re 50, not 15,” he said.Mr. McKenzie recalls the couple holding hands when he first met Ms. Cartwright. “I was like, man, you’re 50, not 15,” he said.
Within months of their first date, Mr. Nelson was bringing Ms. Cartwright to concerts he conducted for Ms. Franklin in cities including Indianapolis and Detroit, and Ms. Cartwright was thinking long term. “I said, ‘I’ll give him two years to give me a ring,” she said. “I was praying to God. I wanted us to be empty nesters together.” After a year she grew impatient: “He told me several times he wanted to marry me. I never said it to him, but I started thinking, Why doesn’t he put his money where his mouth is?”Within months of their first date, Mr. Nelson was bringing Ms. Cartwright to concerts he conducted for Ms. Franklin in cities including Indianapolis and Detroit, and Ms. Cartwright was thinking long term. “I said, ‘I’ll give him two years to give me a ring,” she said. “I was praying to God. I wanted us to be empty nesters together.” After a year she grew impatient: “He told me several times he wanted to marry me. I never said it to him, but I started thinking, Why doesn’t he put his money where his mouth is?”
On Dec. 24, 2016, a year before their wedding day, he did. Between gigs in the waning months of 2016, Mr. Nelson and Mr. McKenzie had gone ring shopping in Chicago. As Ms. Cartwright ordered her second chocolate martini that night at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, Mr. Nelson excused himself and went to his car, where he had left the princess-cut diamond solitaire ring that he and Mr. McKenzie had picked out.On Dec. 24, 2016, a year before their wedding day, he did. Between gigs in the waning months of 2016, Mr. Nelson and Mr. McKenzie had gone ring shopping in Chicago. As Ms. Cartwright ordered her second chocolate martini that night at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, Mr. Nelson excused himself and went to his car, where he had left the princess-cut diamond solitaire ring that he and Mr. McKenzie had picked out.
Mr. Nelson said, “I could tell she was getting tipsy, and I thought, Oh, God,” but by the time he returned she had taken only a sip. He asked her to marry him from across the table. Ms. Cartwright, reserved even under the spell of a martini, quietly said yes. A flurry of waiters clapped, and they were engaged.Mr. Nelson said, “I could tell she was getting tipsy, and I thought, Oh, God,” but by the time he returned she had taken only a sip. He asked her to marry him from across the table. Ms. Cartwright, reserved even under the spell of a martini, quietly said yes. A flurry of waiters clapped, and they were engaged.
The couple chose to get married in a simple ceremony just after regular Sunday morning services. Of the more than 1,000 congregants who filled New Faith’s pews that snowy day, around 150 people — some who knew about the wedding in advance and some who didn’t — stayed behind.The couple chose to get married in a simple ceremony just after regular Sunday morning services. Of the more than 1,000 congregants who filled New Faith’s pews that snowy day, around 150 people — some who knew about the wedding in advance and some who didn’t — stayed behind.
Dionte Cartwright walked his mother down the aisle to a church stage set with Christmas poinsettias while a full band performed the “Dreamgirls” song “When I First Saw You.” Mr. Nelson, in a black tuxedo with a gold bow tie, was waiting with Kyle Hinton, the ring bearer. Before Dr. Felder, the officiant, completed a short, traditional marriage ceremony, there was a musical interlude: the platinum-selling gospel artist Percy Bady, who has known Mr. Nelson for more than 20 years, performed an original composition, “Love Never Dies,” on keyboard. Tears flowed.Dionte Cartwright walked his mother down the aisle to a church stage set with Christmas poinsettias while a full band performed the “Dreamgirls” song “When I First Saw You.” Mr. Nelson, in a black tuxedo with a gold bow tie, was waiting with Kyle Hinton, the ring bearer. Before Dr. Felder, the officiant, completed a short, traditional marriage ceremony, there was a musical interlude: the platinum-selling gospel artist Percy Bady, who has known Mr. Nelson for more than 20 years, performed an original composition, “Love Never Dies,” on keyboard. Tears flowed.
After the final “I do,” another R&B and gospel star, Terisa Griffin, followed Mr. Bady’s performance with a burn-the-house-down rendition of “I Hope You Dance.” The country artist Lee Ann Womack made the song a hit, but Mr. Nelson had his own ideas about how he wanted Ms. Griffin to sing it.After the final “I do,” another R&B and gospel star, Terisa Griffin, followed Mr. Bady’s performance with a burn-the-house-down rendition of “I Hope You Dance.” The country artist Lee Ann Womack made the song a hit, but Mr. Nelson had his own ideas about how he wanted Ms. Griffin to sing it.
“He called me and said, ‘I want you to do this song at my wedding. Make it the Gladys version,’” she said.“He called me and said, ‘I want you to do this song at my wedding. Make it the Gladys version,’” she said.