MUSIC:
Songs of Democracy
Visions of America is very fortunate to feature musical arrangements
by Grammy-winning and
Oscar nominated composer Roger Kellaway.
Roger Kellaway has been described as "a musical chameleon" and "the most awesome jazz pianist quite possibly anywhere on earth." His discography runs to more than two hundred fifty albums. He has performed with everyone from Elvis to Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie to Yo Yo Ma, Joni Mitchell to Mancini and Quincy Jones to Michael Tilson Thomas.
In this photo, Roger explores Philadelphia during the premiere week of Visions of America at the Kimmel Center.
Kellaway is not only a major pianist, he is a composer of protean ability, writing in the jazz, classical and popular music fields, and scoring for films and television. His acclaimed "Cello Quartet" albums for A&M (recently re-released on Verve) are described by some as "crossover", "chamber jazz", and by others as the beginning of "New Age" music. They were the first in an eclectic array of projects beginning in the 1960’s. Roger's commissions included a ballet for George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet, orchestral pieces for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The National Symphony, the New American Orchestra and a variety of chamber works for Carnegie Hall performances, ending with the world premiere of his concerto, "Songs of Ascent," commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta, conductor. Roger later conducted the second performance with The Sapporo Symphony.
Kellaway was born in Waban Massachusetts, November 1, 1939. He fell in love with the piano at the age of 7 and began studying. By the time he was 12, and already listening equally to jazz and classical music, he decided that he wanted to spend his life in music.
He attended Newton High School, at that time ranked the number 3 high school in the United States, studying college level music theory and playing double bass and percussion in the school orchestra, performing works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach.
Meanwhile, he was playing bass in an extracurricular jazz band. From high school, he went on to the New England Conservatory where he studied piano, double bass, and composition.
After two years at the conservatory he left to go on the road, playing bass. After two more, he settled in New York City and began freelancing on piano. By the age of 22, he was one of the busiest, and most highly respected pianists in New York, playing record dates, jazz clubs, and working with singers such as Lena Horne.
In the mid '60s Kellaway moved to Los Angeles to continue doing studio work, which soon included playing on, and then writing film scores. He became musical director for Bobby Darin, and in 1968 arranged and conducted Darin's album of songs from the film Dr. Doolittle. Writing songs and arrangements for wonderful singers is a passion that sometimes expands into producing, as was the case for the Carmen McRae album, "I Am Music". The relationship had started with Roger's song "I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before", written especially for her, with a lyric by the great Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Kellaway has also had a long association with the brilliant lyricist Gene Lees, and more recently with K. Lawrence Dunham, and singer song writer Amanda McBroom.
Kellaway’s most prized television credit is, "Remembering You", the closing theme for All in the Family. Composed in 1970, it is still being heard on TV around the world. He has also been honored with a Grammy award for his music on the album "Memos From Paradise" for Eddie Daniels. He has written twenty six film scores including Barbara Streisand's "A Star is Born” for which he received an Academy Award nomination.
In 1999 Roger was commissioned to compose the music for London’s West End production of “Lenny” starring Eddie Izzard and directed by Sir Peter Hall. In 2000 he was commissioned by the West German Radio to write a two hour show celebrating the 100th birthday of composer Kurt Weill. As well as arranging the show, he also performed as pianist and conductor. Later that year he began working as Musical Director with Kevin Spacey on the pre- production for his film, “Beyond The Sea”, dedicated to Bobby Darin; and served as Musical Director, conductor and pianist for the Dec, 2004 13-city “Beyond The Sea” tour. In 2005 Roger conducted the world premiere of Sir Paul McCartney’s “Nova” in Buenos Aires with The Youth Orchestra of the Americas. In 2007 he performed at and served as Musical Director for “Tribute To Oscar Peterson” at Carnegie Hall and later toured with Tony Bennett as his Musical Director.
2008 began with the prestigious award Prix du Jazz Classique (the French Grammy) for The Roger Kellaway Trio "Heroes". Roger continues performing in concerts across the U.S. and Europe, recording numerous new CD’s, also writing for film, theatrical productions and commissioned works. Currently, he is working with Van Morrison as Musical Director for a live performance recording (CD/DVD) at the Hollywood Bowl, November, 2008.
He is also working again with the Bergmans on Visions Of America, a multimedia portrait of Democracy. The Photo-Symphony for renowned photographer and producer Joseph Sohm premiered in Philadelphia with The Philly Pops in January 2009.
He resides in Ojai, California with his wife of 43 years, Jorjana.
Carnegie Hall:
Roger Kellaway performs in Tribute to Oscar Peterson
Featuring Cellist Boris Strulev (YouTube)
Visions of America: Roger Kellaway • Solo
Musical Explorations of the Original Score
Visions of America is a collaboration between Roger Kellaway and renowned Americana
photographer Joseph Sohm. With Kellaway born in New England, and Sohm on the banks
of the Mississippi in the Midwest, the duo were ideal creative partners to capture the Spirit of America in sight and song. In 2009, with contributions by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Kellaway and Sohm produced and staged Visions of America - A Photo Symphony. The multi-media concert at Kimmel Center/Verizon Hall featured Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Patti Austin and the narration of Clint Eastwood.
"The solo explorations on this CD are selected pieces from my original score.
Enjoy!"
— Roger Kellaway" (www.rogerkellaway.com)
MUSIC:
Songwriting Duo :
The songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman have been enriching the great American songbook for over four decades, and we are very fortunate to have the Academy Award-winning team writing wonderful lyrics for the Visions of America projects..
"Alan Bergman interviewed on Good Day LA (Fox)
for "Visions of America" New West Symphony Concerts
Alan Bergman, an award winning lyricist, is honored with
his wife and co-writer Marilyn Bergman,
at the
New West Symphony Gala in Santa Monica on January 27.
The Gala follows the west coast
premiere of "Visions Of America...a Photo-Symphony Concert" featuring
Joseph Sohm’s photography and script, lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and music of Roger Kellaway.
With vocals of Steve Tyrell and Judith Hill, and recorded narration read by Clint Eastwood.
2006 marked the 50th anniversary of the collaboration of two of the most respected names in the Great American Songbook: Alan and Marilyn Bergman. This milestone was recognized in November by Carnegie Hall at an evening "The Way They Are: Celebrating the Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman," and again on February 2 at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
During their distinguished career, their songs have been nominated for sixteen Academy Awards, for which they have won three: "The Windmills of Your Mind" in 1968, "TheWay We Were" in 1973, and the score for "Yentl" in 1984. "Windmills" and "The Way We Were" also earned Golden Globe Awards, and "The Way We Were" earned two Grammys.
In 1983, they became the first songwriters to be nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Song out of the five nominated songs. These nominations were for "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from "Best Friends;" "It Might Be You" from "Tootsie;" and "If WeWere In Love" from "Yes, Giorgio." In 1984, they again received three nominations: for the score for "Yentl" (for which they were awarded the Oscar) and two for the songs, "The Way He Makes Me Feel" and "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" In 1995, they wrote the Golden Globe, Academy Award and Grammy nominated song "Moonlight" performed by Sting in the Sydney Pollack film, "Sabrina." Among their principal collaborators are Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch, Dave Grusin, Cy Coleman, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mandel, John Williams, Quincy Jones, and James Newton Howard.
In 2001, The Kennedy Center commissioned Alan and Marilyn to write a jazz song cycle. Written in collaboration with Cy Coleman, "Portraits in Jazz: A Gallery of Songs" was performed on May 17th, 2002 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to widespread acclaim. The show, expanded with text by Larry Gelbart, ran for a sold-out, limited engagement at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Now titled "Up Close and Musical," it is being prepared for Broadway. Alan and Marilyn are currently working with Michel Legrand (music) and Rupert Holmes (book) on a musical "The Man Who Was Magic" based on the Paul Gallico book.
Alan & Marilyn's long list of television credits includes the theme songs for "Maude," "Good Times," "Alice," "Brooklyn Bridge" and "In the Heat of the Night." They have received four Emmy Awards: For the award-winning drama,"Sybil," and for the first made-for-TV dramatic musical, "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom," music by Billy Goldenberg, which was later adapted for the Broadway stage as "Ballroom." In 1995, for their original song "Ordinary Miracles," music by Marvin Hamlisch, from the HBO Special "Barbra Streisand: The Concert." Their fourth Emmy came in 1999 for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for "A Ticket to Dream" with Marvin Hamlisch from AFI's 100 Years 100 Movies Special. Two years later they were nominated for their original song "On the Way to Becoming Me" also written with Marvin Hamlisch for the AFI Tribute to Barbra Streisand.
Alan & Marilyn wrote the 1986 "One Voice" concert starring Barbra Streisand and in 1994, they scripted the legendary Barbra Streisand Concert Tour and HBO Special "Barbra Streisand: The Concert" for which they were nominated for a Cable Ace Award.
Among their songs are: for Frank Sinatra "Nice 'n' Easy;" for Ray Charles "In the Heat of the Night," for Fred Astaire "That Face," " You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?;" "So Many Stars," "The Summer Knows," "Where Do You Start?," "On My Way to You," "You Must Believe In Spring," to name but a few.
Soon to be released on Verve Records is Lyrically, an album of their songs sung by Alan Bergman and accompanied by the Berlin Radio Orchestra.
Alan & Marilyn were inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1986 they received the Clooney Foundation Singers Salute to the Songwriter Award, and in 1987 the Songwriter's Guild Aggie Award. In 1995 Alan & Marilyn received Honorary Doctorate degrees from the Berklee College of Music and were recipients of the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award. 1997 brought them the Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award, and in 1998 they received a cultural Medal of Honor in Spain. In 1999, their talent was celebrated with an evening of Lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman at Carnegie Hall.
June 2000 brought them the National Music Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award. In June of 2002 they were honored with the Governor's Award from the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), and the Fall of 2003 brought them the first ever Johnny Mercer Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, Alan & Marilyn were honored at The Flanders Film Festival with the World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marilyn Bergman is President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the world's foremost performing right organization. She was elected in April 1994 after five terms as the first woman ever to serve on ASCAP's Board of Directors. In 1996, she received the first Lifetime Achievement Award for a Distinguished Alumnus from The High School of Music and Art, and also that year was presented with France's highest cultural honor, Commander of the Order of Arts & Letters medal. In 1998, Marilyn received an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity College. In 2002, Marilyn was appointed the first Chairman of the Library of Congress National Sound Recording Preservation Board.
Alan Bergman serves as a member of the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board, the Johnny Mercer Foundation Board, the Artists' Rights Foundation Board and the Jazz Bakery Board of Directors. Alan and Marilyn are both on the Executive Committee of the Music Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Alan and Marilyn were born in the same hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Marilyn was a music major at New York's High School of Music & Art, going on to study Psychology and English at New York University. Alan studied Music & Theatre Arts at the University of North Carolina, continuing toward a Masters Degree at UCLA.
Two of the most respected names in the music business today are Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Nominated for sixteen Academy Awards, they have won Oscars for "The Windmills of Your Mind" in 1968, "The Way We Were" in 1973, and the score for "Yentl" in 1984. "Windmills" and "The Way We Were" also earned Golden Globes, four Emmys and "The Way We Were" earned two Grammys. In 1999, their talent were celebrated with an evening of Lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman at Carnegie Hall. June 2000 brought them the National Music Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
In June of 2002 they were honored with the Governor's Award from the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences, and the Fall of 2003 brought them the first ever Johnny Mercer Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. For “Visions of America,” the Bergmans have teamed up with Roger Kellaway to compose the theme song for the Concert, “We The People,” which will premiere on January 25, 2009 at Kimmel Center - Verizon Hall featuring Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.
Related News: Feature Articles: Alan and Marilyn Bergman on Songwriting: Part 1.. LINK
Related News: Marilyn Bergman to step down as President and Chairman of ASCAP after 15 years.. LINK