Post by Rob Durkee on Aug 7, 2012 19:46:49 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Marvin Hamlisch, who was best known for two 1974 #1 hit songs on the Cash Box pop chart--"The Way We Were" and "The Entertainer"--died Monday (August 6, 2012) in the Los Angeles area following a brief illness. He was 68.
Hamlisch composed more than 40 movie scores in his four-decade career. He co-wrote with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman "The Way We Were," which became the #5 song of 1974, captured a major song Grammy and won him two of his three Oscars, including best original song. "The Way Were Were" was such a popular song that Gladys Knight and the Pips had a top 40 hit in 1975 with a live remake of "The Way We Were/Try To Remember."
Later in 1974, Hamlisch arranged the music for the movie "The Sting. He had a chart-topper with the piano instrumental "The Entertainer" from that movie. "The Entertainer," an adaptation of an old Scott Joplin song, became the #45 song of 1974 and earned Hamlisch his third Oscar. The entire score for "The Sting" was based on Joplin compositions.
According to Wikipedia, Marvin Hamlisch and Richard Rodgers are the only two people in history to have won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize. According to writer Brent Lang, Hamlisch won four Emmys, four Grammys, three Oscars and three Golden Globes.
It's impossible to list all the movies Hamlisch wrote the music for but here's a few: "Ordinary People," "Three Men And A Baby," "The Informant," "The Nutty Professor" and "Ice Castles." On Broadway, his musical scores included "A Chorus Line," "The Goodbye Girl" and "Sweet Smell Of Success."
At age seven, Hamlisch was the youngest student to be admitted by the world famous Julliard School Of Music. He had what school officials felt was perfect pitch. Among Hamlisch's earliest compositions were two hits for Lesley Gore--"Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" (1965) and "California Nights" (1967).
According to the Los Angeles Times, Hamlisch's passing was a shock to many. On his own Facebook page, he said he was looking forward to conducting the Pasadena Symphony And Pops. He was scheduled to direct the New York Philharmonic on New Year's Eve.
The tributes to Marvin Hamlisch have been numerous. For instance, Streisand told WYTV. "I'm devastated. He was my dear friend. He's been in my life ever since the first day I met him in 1963, when he was my rehearsal pianist for 'Funny Girl.'…The world will remember Marvin for his brilliant musical accomplishments, from 'A Chorus Line' to 'The Way We Were' and so many others,. But when I think of him now, it was his brilliantly quick mind, his generosity and delicious sense of humor that made him a delight to be around."
Marvin Hamlisch, who was best known for two 1974 #1 hit songs on the Cash Box pop chart--"The Way We Were" and "The Entertainer"--died Monday (August 6, 2012) in the Los Angeles area following a brief illness. He was 68.
Hamlisch composed more than 40 movie scores in his four-decade career. He co-wrote with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman "The Way We Were," which became the #5 song of 1974, captured a major song Grammy and won him two of his three Oscars, including best original song. "The Way Were Were" was such a popular song that Gladys Knight and the Pips had a top 40 hit in 1975 with a live remake of "The Way We Were/Try To Remember."
Later in 1974, Hamlisch arranged the music for the movie "The Sting. He had a chart-topper with the piano instrumental "The Entertainer" from that movie. "The Entertainer," an adaptation of an old Scott Joplin song, became the #45 song of 1974 and earned Hamlisch his third Oscar. The entire score for "The Sting" was based on Joplin compositions.
According to Wikipedia, Marvin Hamlisch and Richard Rodgers are the only two people in history to have won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize. According to writer Brent Lang, Hamlisch won four Emmys, four Grammys, three Oscars and three Golden Globes.
It's impossible to list all the movies Hamlisch wrote the music for but here's a few: "Ordinary People," "Three Men And A Baby," "The Informant," "The Nutty Professor" and "Ice Castles." On Broadway, his musical scores included "A Chorus Line," "The Goodbye Girl" and "Sweet Smell Of Success."
At age seven, Hamlisch was the youngest student to be admitted by the world famous Julliard School Of Music. He had what school officials felt was perfect pitch. Among Hamlisch's earliest compositions were two hits for Lesley Gore--"Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" (1965) and "California Nights" (1967).
According to the Los Angeles Times, Hamlisch's passing was a shock to many. On his own Facebook page, he said he was looking forward to conducting the Pasadena Symphony And Pops. He was scheduled to direct the New York Philharmonic on New Year's Eve.
The tributes to Marvin Hamlisch have been numerous. For instance, Streisand told WYTV. "I'm devastated. He was my dear friend. He's been in my life ever since the first day I met him in 1963, when he was my rehearsal pianist for 'Funny Girl.'…The world will remember Marvin for his brilliant musical accomplishments, from 'A Chorus Line' to 'The Way We Were' and so many others,. But when I think of him now, it was his brilliantly quick mind, his generosity and delicious sense of humor that made him a delight to be around."