Gary William Friedman is an American

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

symphonic A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning com ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

composer. His career began in the 1960s in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

as a

saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

in an improvisational ensemble and as a composer for

experimental theater Experimental theatre (also known as avant-garde theatre), inspired largely by Wagner's concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, began in Western theatre in the late 19th century with Alfred Jarry and his Ubu plays as a rejection of both the age in particular ...

. Friedman's 1970 musical, ''

The Me Nobody Knows ''The Me Nobody Knows'' is a musical with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt. It debuted off-Broadway in 1970 and then transferred to Broadway, making it one of the earliest rock musicals to play on Broadway, and the first ...

'' opened

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

and won the

Obie Award The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

for Best Music of a Musical before moving to

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

and earning five

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

nominations. Friedman has also composed scores for numerous American films and television series such as

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during the early evenin ...

, ''

The Electric Company ''The Electric Company'' is an American educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW, now known as Sesame Workshop). It was co-created by Paul Dooley, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett. The ...

''. His orchestral and operatic compositions have been commissioned by festivals and venues including the

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

Biography

Early life and education

Born and raised in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, Friedman was a saxophonist and band leader at Abraham Lincoln High School. While attending

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls about 15,000 undergraduate and 2,800 graduate students on a 35-acre campus. Being New York City's first publ ...

, Friedman studied composition with

Hall Overton Hall Franklin Overton (February 23, 1920 – November 24, 1972) was an American composer, jazz pianist and music teacher. He was born in Bangor, Michigan, the first of the three sons of Stanford and Ruth (Barnes) Overton. He grew up in Grand Rapi ...

and

Jan Meyerowitz Jan Meyerowitz (23 April 1913 – 15 December 1998) was a German–American composer, conductor, pianist and writer. Life Meyerowitz was born Hans-Hermann Meyerowitz in Breslau (today Wrocław), the son of a manufacturer. From 1927, he studied ...

. After completing his post-graduate studies in education, Friedman studied

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

composition with

Vladimir Ussachevsky Vladimir Alexeevich Ussachevsky (November 3, 1911 in Hailar, China – January 2, 1990 in New York, New York) was a composer, particularly known for his work in electronic music. Biography Vladimir Ussachevsky was born in the Hailar Distric ...

, at the

Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center The Computer Music Center (CMC) at Columbia University is the oldest center for electronic and computer music research in the United States. It was founded in the 1950s as the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. Location The CMC is hou ...

Musical performance and composition

Friedman performed as a

throughout the early 1960s and became a key member of the Free-Form Improvisational Ensemble with

Burton Greene Burton Greene (June 14, 1937 – June 28, 2021) was an American free jazz pianist born in Chicago, Illinois, though most known for his work in New York City. He explored multiple genres, including avant-garde jazz and the Klezmer medium. Biogra ...

and Alan Silva. In September 1964, the group was featured in concert at New York City's

Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

, where Friedman's ''Benjamin, A Brass Quintet'' premiered. During this period, Friedman's theatrical career began as the composer of scores for plays by Paul Foster,

Tom Eyen Tom Eyen (August 14, 1940 – May 26, 1991) was an American playwright, lyricist, television writer and director. He received a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for ''Dreamgirls'' in 1981. Eyen is best known for works at opposite e ...

, and

Jean-Claude van Itallie Jean-Claude van Itallie (May 25, 1936 – September 9, 2021) was a Belgian-born American playwright, performer, and theatre workshop teacher. He is best known for his 1966 anti-Vietnam War play ''America Hurrah;'' ''The Serpent'', an ensemble ...

Ellen Stewart Ellen Stewart (November 7, 1919 – January 13, 2011) was an American theatre director and producer and the founder of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. During the 1950s she worked as a fashion designer for Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodm ...

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (La MaMa E.T.C.) is an Off-Off-Broadway theatre founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, African-American theatre director, producer, and fashion designer. Located in Manhattan's East Village, the theatre began in the ...

. His first major critical and commercial success was as composer of the 1970 musical ''

'', for which

Will Holt Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

and Herb Schapiro wrote the lyrics. After winning the

for Best Music of a Musical, the show transferred to

in 1971, where it garnered five

nominations, including Best Score. The show went on to be produced and performed throughout the world, in cities such as Hamburg, London, Paris and Johannesburg. Two songs from the show, " Light Sings", recorded by

The 5th Dimension The 5th Dimension is an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire includes pop, R&B, soul, jazz, light opera, and Broadway. Formed as the Versatiles in late 1965, the group changed its name to "the 5th Dimension" by 1966. Betwee ...

, and "This World", recorded by

The Staples Singers The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (April 11, 1934 – February 21 ...

, became top pop singles. In 1980, ''The Me Nobody Knows'' was produced as a special

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

television presentation, introduced and hosted by

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

. In 1975 Friedman served as music director for

television's ''

'', for which he wrote over 60 songs, including the popular "Spider-Man Theme Song". Friedman's musical ''Taking My Turn'', for which Holt wrote the lyrics, won the

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...

in 1983, and was presented on

's ''

Great Performances ''Great Performances'' is a television anthology series dedicated to the performing arts; the banner has been used to televise theatrical performances such as plays, musicals, opera, ballet, concerts, as well as occasional documentaries. It is pr ...

'' series with a cast that included

Margaret Whiting Margaret Eleanor Whiting (July 22, 1924 – January 10, 2011) was an American popular music and country music singer who gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s.Mapes, Jillian.Margaret Whiting, Iconic Standards Singer, Dies at 86. ''Billboard' ...

Marni Nixon Margaret Nixon McEathron (February 22, 1930 – July 24, 2016), known professionally as Marni Nixon, was an American soprano and ghost singer for featured actresses in musical films. She is now recognized as the singing voice of leading a ...

, and Cissy Houston. Friedman's features and television film scores include ''

Full Moon High ''Full Moon High'' is a 1981 American comedy horror film written and directed by Larry Cohen. Plot The film is about a teenager who goes on a trip to Transylvania with his father and gets bitten by a werewolf. Made ageless, he attempts to put h ...

'' (1981), starring

Alan Arkin Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26, 1934) is an American actor, director and screenwriter known for his performances on stage and screen. Throughout his career spanning over six decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award ...

and

Adam Arkin Adam Arkin (born August 19, 1956) is an American actor and director. He is known for playing the role of Aaron Shutt on '' Chicago Hope''. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony (Best Actor, 1991, ''I Hate Hamlet'') as well ...

, ''Who Gets The Friends'' (1988), starring

Lucie Arnaz Lucie Désirée Arnaz (born July 17, 1951) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Early life Arnaz was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of acto ...

and

Jill Clayburgh Jill Clayburgh (April 30, 1944 – November 5, 2010) was an American actress known for her work in theater, television, and cinema. She received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Ac ...

, and ''Bump In The Night'' (1991), starring

Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film ''Superman'' (1978) and three sequels. Born in New York City and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, ...

. Friedman has co-produced and composed original material for several internationally acclaimed jazz recordings with his wife, vocalist and lyricist,

Stevie Holland Stevie Holland (born January 11, 1965) is an American jazz and cabaret singer, lyricist, playwright and actress. Raised in Westchester County, New York, she moved to New York City to study drama at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. ...

. Their album, ''Before Love Has Gone'' (150 Music), was chosen by ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...

'' as a Top CD of The Year in 2008. Friedman's orchestral, operatic and dance works have been commissioned and performed at venues such as the

, the Lancaster Music Festival, the Columbus Symphony, and

Encompass New Opera Theatre Encompass New Opera Theatre is a professional opera company located in New York City which specializes in premiering new productions, and reviving 20th century operas by American and international composers. A member of Opera America, Encompass wa ...

. ''Ligeia'', an orchestral chamber work inspired by the short story of the same name by

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

, had its world premiere in October 2011 with the Pit Stop Players at The DiMenna Center for the Arts in New York City. His liturgical works include ''An American S'Lichot'', a Hebrew choral and orchestral work that is performed annually at synagogues throughout the United States on the S’lichot holy day. A selection of Friedman's symphonic works was recorded and released on the CD ''Colloquy'' in 2008 by 150 Music.

Teaching

After completing his post-graduate studies in 1960, Friedman worked as a licensed teacher in New York City public school system. He taught an advanced course in music for film at

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

in 1985 and writing for theater at the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

(UCLA) in 1993.

Personal life

Friedman married singer-lyricist

in 1999. He has two children from his first marriage to Barbara Ellen Miller, who died in 1997.

List of works

Broadway productions

* ''

'' (1971) * ''

Platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Platinu ...

'' (1978)

Off-Broadway productions

* ''

'' (1969) * ''Taking My Turn'' (1982) * ''Sunset'' (1983) * ''Bring In The Morning'' (1991) * ''Sheba'' (1995) * '' Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter'' (co-author and arrangements) (2009)

Other theater productions

* ''2008 ½'' (lyrics by

), Truck and Warehouse Theatre, New York City (1972) * ''Walking Papers'' (lyrics by

Sandra Hochman Sandra Hochman (born September 11, 1936 in New York City) is an American author, poet, screenwriter, lyricist and documentary film maker. Her first autobiographical novel ''Walking Papers'' was very well received and Philip Roth called it a ma ...

Circle in the Square Theatre The Circle in the Square Theatre is a Broadway theater at 235 West 50th Street, in the basement of Paramount Plaza, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It is one of two Broadway theaters that use a thrust stage that extends ...

, New York City (1975) * ''Laugh A Little, Cry A Little'' (lyrics by Arnold Horwitt), National Tour, starring

Jan Peerce Jan Peerce (born Yehoshua Pinkhes Perelmuth; June 3, 1904 December 15, 1984) was an American operatic tenor. Peerce was an accomplished performer on the operatic and Broadway theatre, Broadway concert stages, in solo recitals, and as a recordi ...

(1976) * ''Merton of The Movies'' (lyrics by

Robert Lorick Robert Lorick (died January 2016) was a lyricist, actor, and writer, best known as a Broadway lyricist and for his work portraying Jack Flanders, the lead character in a series of ZBS Foundation audio adventures produced from 1972 until Lorick's ...

(1985) * ''Ghetto'' (additional lyrics by

Sheldon Harnick Sheldon Mayer Harnick (born April 30, 1924) is an American lyricist and songwriter best known for his collaborations with composer Jerry Bock on musicals such as ''Fiorello!'' and ''Fiddler on the Roof''. Early life Sheldon Mayer Harnick was bo ...

), Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles (1986) * ''Sheba'' (book and lyrics by Sharleen Cooper Cohen), ATA, New York City (1994) * ''The Last Supper, A Musical Enactment'' (lyrics by Thomas Mitz), Saint Luke's Theatre, New York City (2001) * ''Magpie'' (lyrics by Edward Gallardo),

New York Musical Theatre Festival The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) was an annual three-week summer festival that operated from 2004 to 2019. It presented more than 30 new musicals a year in New York City's midtown theater district. More than half were chosen by leading theate ...

, The Player's Theatre, New York City (2007) * ''Treasure Island'' (book by

Sherman Yellen Sherman Yellen (born February 25, 1932, New York City) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and political commentator. Early life and education Sherman Yellen was born in 1932 to Nathan and Lillian Yellen. He attended the High School of Mus ...

, lyrics by

), Theatre Three, Port Jefferson, New York (2012)

Symphonic works

* ''Mordecai'' (opera; libretto by Robert Reinhold), premiered at the Kosciushko Foundation, New York City (1979) * ''Haskalah'', premiered with the Columbus Symphony, Columbus, Ohio (1984) * ''Waning Powers'' (opera; libretto by Gerald Walker), premiered at the

Vineyard Theatre The Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway non-profit theatre company, located at 108 East 15th Street in Manhattan, New York City, near Union Square. Its first production was in 1981. It is best known for its productions of the Tony award-winning ...

, New York City (1986) * ''The Pied Piper'' (ballet), commissioned and performed by Tales and Scales, choreographed by Mercedes Ellington, premiered at the Lancaster Music Festival (1994), subsequently performed with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (1995) * ''Puss N' Boots'' (ballet), commissioned and performed by Maestro Gary Sheldon for the Lancaster Music Festival, choreographed by Melinda Baker (1998) * ''Teddy'' (operatic fable; libretto by Herb Schapiro), performed in concert with Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, director), New York City (2002) * ''Accordion Samba'', commissioned by

American Accordionists' Association The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) is an American association dedicated to players of the accordion. It was established on March 9, 1938, and is currently based in Mt. Vernon, New York. Pietro Deiro was the first president of the Amer ...

, premiered at Elebash Recital Hall, New York City (2005) * ''Ligeia'' (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by

Joshua Rosenblum Joshua Rosenblum (born May 10, 1963) is an American composer, conductor, pianist, arranger, and music journalist. He has composed extensively for the concert hall as well as for musical theatre, and currently teaches Composing for Musical Theate ...

for the Pit Stop Players, DiMenna Center for The Arts, New York City (2011) * ''Butterfly'' (cantata for orchestra and soloists), premiered by Cantor Jack Chomsky at

Trinity Lutheran Seminary Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is an Evangelical Lutheran seminary in Columbus, Ohio. History In 1830, the German Theological Seminary of the Ohio Synod, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (ELTS), was f ...

, Bexley, Ohio (2014) * ''The Raven'' (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by

for the Pit Stop Players, Saint Stephens Church, New York City (2015) * ''Reflections'' (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by The Palisades Virtuosi, at the George Frey Center For The Arts, New Jersey (2015), Recorded on

Albany Records Albany Records is a record label that concentrates on unconventional contemporary classical music by American composers and musicians. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987 and is based in Albany, New York. See also * List of record la ...

(2017) * ''A Dream Within A Dream'' (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by

for the Pit Stop Players, Good Sheperd-Faith Presbyterian Church, New York City (2016) * ''Anthem'' (chamber work; poem by

Ross Yockey Ross Yockey (1943 – April 13, 2008) was a writer, producer, author, and television journalist. He authored 21 books, most notably best selling business book ''McColl, the Man with America's Money'', a biography about banker Hugh McColl. Yockey h ...

), premiered by the Essex Chamber Music Players at the David Hartleb Tech Center,

Northern Essex Community College Northern Essex Community College (NECC) is a public community college in Essex County, Massachusetts. The college serves residents of the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire. It has campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. The college is par ...

, Haverhill, Massachusetts (2017)

Liturgical works

* ''Celebration'', a contemporary setting of the traditional Friday night service, commissioned by Roger L. Stevens for

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

(1971), premiered at

Temple Israel of the City of New York Temple Israel of the City of New York is a Reform congregation in Manhattan. It was incorporated in 1873 by German Jews. It purchased its first synagogue building Fifth Avenue and 125th Street in 1887, constructed its own at 201 Lenox Avenue and ...

(1973) * ''An American S'Lichot'', commissioned and premiered by Cantor Jack Chomsky at Congregation Tifereth Israel, Columbus, Ohio (1983) * ''Song Of Songs, for Cantor, Choir and Orchestra'', commissioned and performed by Cantor Nate Lam at Stephen Wise Synagogue, Los Angeles (1988)

Film scores

* ''

Fore Play ''Fore Play'' is a 1975 comedy film, comedy anthology film co-directed by Bruce Malmuth, Robert McCarty, Ralph Rosenblum, and future Academy Award-winner John G. Avildsen. Plot Within a frame story in which a doctor talks about sex, the film is ...

'' (1975) * ''Spree'' (1979) * ''

'' (1981) * ''The Creation'' (video short) (1988) * ''The Goodbye Bird'' (1993) * ''Private Debts'' (short) (1993)

Television

* "Alexander", an ''

ABC Afterschool Special ''ABC Afterschool Special'' is an American television anthology series that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presen ...

'' (1973) * ''

'' (music director and composer) (1974–1975) * ''

'' (

special) (1979) * ''Taking My Turn'' (

'' series) (1983) * '' My Two Loves'' (1986) * ''Night of Courage'' (

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

) (1987) * ''Who Gets the Friends?'' (1988) * ''Liberace'' (1988) * ''Bump in the Night'' (1991) * ''Susan B. Anthony Slept Here'' (1995)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * *
Gary William Friedman
at

Internet Off-Broadway Database The Internet Off-Broadway Database (IOBDB), also formerly known as the Lortel Archives, is an online database that catalogues theatre productions shown off-Broadway. The IOBDB was funded and developed by the non-profit Lucille Lortel Foundation ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedman, Gary William Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American film score composers American male film score composers American musical theatre composers American television composers Obie Award recipients Brooklyn College alumni Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni