Composer Marvin Hamlisch, left, seen here with Barbra Streisand at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Gala in 2011, died Monday in Los Angeles. AP PHOTO/Alex J. Berliner, file
I don't usually do personal blogs but the passing of the great American composer Marvin Hamlisch Monday left me no choice.
The news broke my heart.
Two years ago, I interviewed him for the PBS special "Marvin Hamlisch Presents: The '70s: The Way We Were." It was one of the highlights of my career in journalism.
I was in the third row center when "They're Playing Our Song" played in Tulsa back in , I think, the '80s. I sang along with cast members because I already knew all the words. Whenever I heard the score of one of his films, it instantly reminded me of the way we were when those films were hits.
That long ago phone interview started with a surprise.
The voice on the phone said, "Rita, it's Marvin." Not knowing Marvin Who, I politely asked "What can I do for you?" The voice quickly added, "Marvin Hamlisch, I was wondering if you could do the interview tomorrow?'"
The world-famous composer, who was calling from the site of his next concert in Wichita, Kan., was waiting for my answer. I was too busy being stunned by the fact that the only living recipient of the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Grammy and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama had called me by my first name to realize he was waiting for me to answer.
"Of course," I said, trying to be the consummate professional. But then I blew my cool. "I'd be thrilled to talk to you tomorrow."
Thrilled? We cynical journalists never say "thrilled" to talk to anyone. But I did and I was.
And, at the end of that 30-minute interview, Hamlisch, after telling me he would be taking a three-week vacation in the Mediterranean in August, remarked "When I'm in Rome, I will be reading your article (online) and I will be drinking a drink for you."
No pressure.
I never did hear if he liked the article or not. I imagine he had a few other things on his mind..
But I remember that interview and what it was like to talk to this man whose musical genius filled my world. (Full disclosure here: My ultimate dream was to be a dancer on Broadway but Dad talked me out of that one. Short legs aren't a good look for dancers and, in journalism, it didn't matter.)
We did talk music but we also talked remodeling.
He was having his kitchen redone: "Every time you meet a contractor, add the word two years – he says October think at least December or January and if he mentions he can bring it in under $28,000 add at least several thousands more."
He talked about his love of doing shows like the PBS special and seeing it on TV versus spending mucho dollars for seat in a Broadway theater.
"I went to a show a couple of weeks ago and it cost $110 to sit in the orchestra. At least on PBS, you get it and don't have to worry about it costing $100. What I love about PBS and it truly, sounds like an old record, but if a person likes a show and can actually afford to send in $1 it means the same as sending $100 dollars. It s not about who sends the biggest check. It's about liking the show and what you see on PBS."
And he had an opinion about reality shows like "American Idol." Shows, he said, "that can make a star out of anybody."
"These people do what they do for 15 minutes but only the good ones break out. It's very rare to see a multiple talent on those shows," he said.
"They haven't had to learn how to dance if they are a singer or how to act if they are a dancer. The only place you will see what I call a triple threat is on Broadway and theater."
And, it's not hard to write music for those multi-talented people.
"They have so much energy and personality to begin with that they could sing the phone book and be great. They can deliver."
His favorite TV show, he said, was reruns of "Boston Legal." And, he was a "big, big, big baseball fan."
And now, somewhere up there, he is tickling the ivories and advising the chorus of angels: "There will be no lip syncing. We're doing this live!"
And they will. To a standing ovation. Because no one does it better.
He was one singular sensation and will be missed by so many. Me included.
