The EGOT-winning composer of The Way We Were and A Chorus Line recounts his remarkable life from childhood to Broadway and Hollywood. The son of Jewish Viennese immigrants, six-year-old Marvin Hamlisch's early musical talent and discipline led him to Julliard, where he studied for more than a decade. From there, Hamlisch got his start as a rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand. He went on to co-create the classic American musical A Chorus Line and wrote the Oscar Award-winning musical score for The Way We Were. Hamlisch is one of only a handful of people to achieve EGOT status--winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. In this autobiography, Hamlisch tells the tale of his life and career, revealing personal stories of his childhood, his marriage, and his friendships with stars including Liza Minnelli, Groucho Marx, and others. It offers an intimate view of his life and a compelling portrait of Broadway and Hollywood through the second half of the twentieth century.
A very enjoyable read. I devoured it in one sitting, as it speeds along in a no-nonsence fashion. Mr. Hamlisch is candid but gentle in his critique of his career and life. As an A CHORUS LINE fan i particularly loved his diary extracts from 1974 on the creation of this show (the only part of the book that involves a diary.) You only don't have to agree with him about his assertions of his musical JEAN to enjoy his observations. My only cavil being that the final chapters about his love-life are a little bit sugary. If only he had updated this book with his recent endeavours as this book was published in 1992. A good read!
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