A Tuesday (8/14) Associated Press report published in the Washington Post states, “Friends and admirers of Marvin Hamlisch including former President Bill Clinton and Liza Minnelli gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to the celebrated songwriter hailed as ‘the people’s composer.’ Clinton called Hamlisch, whose casket was covered in his favorite yellow freesias, a ‘great, giving genius.’ Sir Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony Corp., called him ‘the merriest of minstrels.’ Other guests included ex-Yankee manager Joe Torre, Kelli O’Hara, Ann-Margret, Raul Esparza, Robert Klein, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Leslie Uggams, Richard Gere, Tony Danza, Kathie Lee Gifford and Diane Sawyer and her husband Mike Nichols, the film and stage director. Idina Menzel sang ‘At the Ballet.’ … Hamlisch, who became the youngest person accepted by The Juilliard School at age 7, became one of the most decorated artists in history, winning three Oscars, four Emmys, four Grammys, a Tony, a Pulitzer and two Golden Globes. … Hamlisch also enjoyed holding a baton, conducting orchestras in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Dallas, Seattle and San Diego, among others. At the time of his death, he was to be announced as the principal pops conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. And on New Year’s Eve, he was to conduct a concert with the New York Philharmonic.”
Posted August 15, 2012
