| Home | | | Past Issues | |
 |  |
|
|
 |
July 1, 2004
• Cy Coleman: A big name in a small music world The Changing Scene Cy Coleman: A big name in a small music world What do Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and "Sweet Charity" composer Cy Coleman have in common? It’s a little complicated so bear with me. Cy Coleman started playing the piano when he was 4 years old. His mother owned rental property in New York and one of the tenants didn't pay the rent and was evicted. That tenant owned a piano but didn’t have the money to hire anybody to move the piano out when he was moved out. So Cy’s mother had the piano moved to her apartment and when Cy showed facility with the black and white keys, she decided he needed a teacher. The teacher that was chosen was Constance Talarico. She was so impressed with Cy's talent that she set up a deal whereby his mother paid for one lesson a week and Mrs. Talarico threw in two lessons free a week. Now here’s where we get the big finish. Steven Tyler’s real name is Steven Victor Talarico and Constance Talarico was his grandmother. The music world can be very small. Coleman's talent was such that between the ages of 6 and 9 he played classical piano concerts at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall and Steinway Hall. He studied at The New York School of Music and composed a piano sonata for one of his teachers when he was only 16. When Coleman was 17, music publisher Jack Robbins teamed him with lyricist Joseph McCarthy and they composed "Why Try To Change Me Now?" which was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Mabel Mercer. In 1962, Coleman was the composer for "Wildcat," the show that gave Lucille Ball her first starring role in a Broadway musical and the show-stopping tune "Hey, Look Me Over." It is a rare political campaign that has not used this song one time or another when bringing a candidate to the podium. In 1966, Coleman wrote the music for "Sweet Charity," which is running at The Barrington Stage Company through July 17 under the direction of Rob Ruggiero. Based on Federico Fellini's Oscar-winning movie, "Nights of Cabiria," the musical has a book by Neil Simon and lyrics by Dorothy Field. "Bob Fosse brought the show to me," said Coleman in a telephone interview. "Simon was working in Italy and Fosse brought the songs over to him and had them played and Simon signed on. He said he was 'seduced' by the songs.” Gwen Verdon played the lead on Broadway and it was a smash hit. I am not alone in considering the songs "Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now" to be Broadway classics. The 74-year-old Coleman said that "Sweet Charity" is enjoying a big revival throughout the country and right now the show is being cast for a national tour that will eventually end up on Broadway in 2005. Coleman's other Broadway hits were "Little Me" with Sid Caesar, “Seesaw,” “Barnum,” “On the 20th Century,” “Will Rogers Follies,” “City of Angels” and “The Life” in 1997. His movie credits include “Father Goose,” “Power,” “Garbo Talks,” “Family Business” and, of course, “Sweet Charity,” for which he received an Oscar nomination. His hit songs include “Witchcraft,” “The Best Is Yet To Come,” “Why Try To Change Me Now” and “I’m Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life.” Coleman has also worked closely with Shirley MacLaine in television, composing the songs for her 1974 TV Special, "If My Friends Could See Me Now," and in 1976 "Gypsy in My Soul," the show that won Emmys for both MacLaine and Coleman. When asked about his favorite composition, he said that he doesn't have any favorite songs, that he is a "perpetual optimist" who always likes what he is doing at the moment. "I am plugging away all the time," he said, "and I'm busy recording and doing a cycle of jazz songs with Alan and Marilyn Bergman.” Was he planning to come to the Berkshires to see the BSC production of "Sweet Charity"? "If my schedule permits, I will be there," he said. "I love the Berkshires and have many friends there. Everything is so beautiful in the Berkshires.” "It's 'Witchcraft,’ " I almost said, but I didn’t. |
 |
  |
|
© 2010 New England Newspapers, Inc.
|
)
)
)
)
)
)