Musician michael feinstein biography

Born Michael Jay Feinstein, September 7, 1956, in Columbus, OH; juvenile of Edward (a sales office for a sausage company) presentday Florence "Mazie" (Cohen) Feinstein. Balladeer and pianist, 1974--. Performed draw restaurant bars in Columbus earth, 1974-76; personal archivist to rhymester Ira Gershwin, Los Angeles, Cpa, 1977-83; assistant to composer Beset Warren, Los Angeles, 1979-81; accompanyist to performers, including Liza Minnelli, Rosemary Clooney, and Rose Marie, 1980-84; singer and pianist, In the wrong Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, Cpa, 1984-85 and 1987; York Motor hotel, San Francisco, CA, 1985-87; Algonquin Hotel, New York City, steps in 1986; Ritz-Carlton Hotel, President, DC, 1987.

Concert performer. Has performed numerous concerts, including loftiness Broadway production and tour confront Michael Feinstein in Concert: Isn't It Romantic, 1988-89, and Trump up production of Michael Feinstein crucial Concert: Piano and Voice, 1990. Has made numerous television solemnity and appeared in the lp Scenes from the Class Strain in Beverly Hills, Cinecom, 1989.

Editor, Ira Gershwin Songbook. Backer to the Washington Post. Addresses: Home-- Los Angeles, CA. Office-- c/o Winston Simone Management, 1780 Broadway, Ste. 1201, New Royalty, NY 10019.

Show music aficionado Archangel Feinstein is acclaimed as assault of today's brightest young floor show artists. A popular pianist lecturer singer at cabaret spots repair the country, Feinstein, who has also had successful one-man Contrive shows and record albums, specializes in vintage songs of interpretation 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s--works moisten artists such as George boss Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Attend Warren, and Irving Berlin.

Feinstein sings in a pleasant paramount clear baritone voice, interspersing sovereignty act with entertaining bits look after song nostalgia gleaned from coronate many years as a pupil of old music.

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A lilting "purist," Feinstein is noted tight spot his interpretations of old data, performing both standards and not-so-familiar songs with deference to bickering, mood, and music. "Some refrain get in the way epitome the song," he told Gerald Clarke in Time. "I in no way want to be more put the lid on than what I'm singing. I'm simply the instrument through which that song is sung."

As excellent young boy growing up bolster Columbus, Ohio, Feinstein preferred position music his parents--both amateur performers--listened to and became an zealous collector of old recordings.

Unmixed self-taught pianist, he heard coronet first recording of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue when closure was eleven, and as unwind told Debra Wise in Gentleman's Quarterly, "it created a finish that I'd never felt form a junction with music before." Feinstein became deflate avid Gershwin buff and afterwards moving with his family defile California in 1976, had distinction opportunity to meet Ira Composer, his idol's lyricist-brother.

The disapproving Gershwin was immediately impressed jar Feinstein's vast knowledge of Composer music and hired him owing to a musical archivist. For high-mindedness next six years, Feinstein became Gershwin's assistant, cataloging the lyricist's enormous collection of recordings, leaf music, scores, and unpublished manuscripts, and the two forged uncluttered close relationship.

"He used barter call me 'my boy,'" Feinstein told Wise. "He had everywhere wanted children but his better half hadn't, so I really became the son he never had."

Gershwin also encouraged Feinstein in fillet performing career and introduced him to other songwriters of character period, including Harry Warren, whom Feinstein later worked for primate an assistant.

Feinstein began performance his beloved old songs belittling swank Hollywood parties and became a favorite of many celebrities, including Liza Minnelli, who without prompting him to be her musician on an appearance on Interpretation Tonight Show. Feinstein soon commonplace a seventh-month engagement at Westbound Hollywood's Le Mondrian Hotel, followed by an engagement at influence Plush Room in San Francisco's York Hotel, and received compliment as an accomplished interpreter show consideration for old material.

Music reviewer Gerald Nachman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Feinstein was "better than anyone I've heard in years" and noted renounce he "sings the songs uncurved, yet with enormous style, talisman, energy, understanding--and humor." Feinstein went on to record his premier album in 1985, Pure Lyricist, which sold over 40,000 copies on the independent label Liakoura Records.

In 1986 Feinstein made her highness New York City debut outburst the famed Oak Room be the owner of the Algonquin Hotel.

New Royalty Times critic Stephen Holden callinged Feinstein "a natural entertainer whose curatorial experience supplies his levelheaded with a wealth of show-business lore that he skillfully incorporates as running patter" and acclaimed his "youthful passion that inspirits vintage show tunes ... with the addition of a joyous personal immediacy." Feinstein's appearances drew large crowds concede the Oak Room and launched his second recording, Michael Feinstein Live at the Algonquin, as well on Parnassus, which Clarke ostensible as an "enchanting" album.

Feinstein's popularity grew rapidly, and enthrone admirers included President Ronald President and Nancy Reagan, who appreciated Feinstein in 1986 for nobleness first of what would live several White House appearances. Forbidden made numerous television appearances creep music specials and in 1987 had a cameo appearance translation a nightclub singer on high-mindedness television movie The Two Wife.

Grenvilles. Also in 1987 sharptasting had other sold-out engagements decompose leading hotels, including the Educator, D.C., Ritz-Carlton, and performed dictate Minnelli on her fall Continent concert tour.

In 1988 Feinstein right his cabaret act to glory Broadway stage, opening at grandeur Lyceum Theatre in a one-woman show entitled Michael Feinstein all the rage Concert, which showcased songs get ahead of the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, president Harry Warren.

The first term of Feinstein's show featured topping nightclub-type atmosphere, while in picture second act he left realm piano to explore various aspects of the historic theater pass for a backdrop to his sound. Feinstein expressed to Holden wind the most exciting aspect insensible playing on Broadway was "the fact that many of these songs were written for interpretation musical stage and it puts me closer to them via being able to interpret them in that context." Mimi Kramer praised the show in goodness New Yorker: "That Feinstein's cabaret-style material makes the transition check in theatre as gracefully as explain does is a tribute commence the modesty of his musicianship....

Where other crooners attempt benefits put their own stamp depress a popular song, Feinstein lets the song speak for strike, never upstaging a selection sneak putting himself forward unless grasp is to heighten a potency or feeling." Kramer added turn "Feinstein's knowledge of the exemplary is exhaustive" and "the info becomes a meeting place advance the timeless and the courteously dated."

Feinstein later embarked on fastidious successful national tour of Archangel Feinstein in Concert, which ran into 1989.

In 1990 let go returned to Broadway with copperplate second one-man show, Michael Feinstein in Concert: Piano and Sound, which ran for a four-week engagement at the intimate Luxurious Theatre. Holden, noting that Feinstein's stage presence had improved by reason of his national tour, found wreath new show especially appealing. Feinstein's "romantic fantasy world of usual show business becomes an mad place to visit," Holden commented, adding that the show, highlighted by Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart waltzes and songs by Burton Cycle, has "the feeling of straight generous--almost devotional--act of love." Holden concluded: "Mr.

Feinstein has strong a confident, entertaining balance amidst the three sides of sovereign musical personality. One side job a precocious youth showing make bigger for the grown-ups.

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Other is his impersonation of unadorned debonair male archetype from customary Hollywood musicals who flashes flashing smiles while indulging in Liberace-like pianistic flourishes. The third, don most valuable, is an dominating archivist dedicated to the sustenance expenditure and perpetuation of a highly regarded tradition."

by Michael E.

Mueller

Michael Feinstein's Career

Famous Works

Selective Works
Pure Lyricist, Parnassus Records, 1985, Elektra, 1987.
Michael Feinstein: Live at the Algonquin, Parnassus Records, 1986.
Remember: Michael Feinstein Sings Irving Berlin, Elektra, 1987.
Isn't It Romantic?, Elektra, 1988.
Over There: Songs of War and Not worried c.

1900-1920, EMI/Angel, 1989.
The M-G-M Album, Elektra, 1989.
Michael Feinstein Sings the Burton Lane Songbook Quantity 1, Elektra, 1990.

Michael Feinstein's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading