Randy Newman
Coinciding with the release of ‘Randy Newman: Live in London’, the evening will feature material from throughout Newman’s four-decade long career, including some of his best-known songs like ‘Short People’, ‘Louisiana 1927’, and ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’, as well as newer songs such as ‘A Few Words in Defense of My Country’ and ‘Laugh and Be Happy’.
After starting his songwriting career as a teenager, Newman launched into recording as a singer and pianist in 1968 with his self-titled album ‘Randy Newman’. His reputation as a songwriter grew quickly, as Judy Collins, Dusty Springfield, Peggy Lee, Harry Nilsson, and Joe Cocker, among others, recorded his work. Throughout the 1970s he released several other acclaimed albums such as ’12 Songs’, ‘Sail Away’, and ‘Good Old Boys’. In addition to his solo recordings Newman has also composed music for several films.
Newman has earned six Grammys, won three Emmys and in 2010 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been nominated 20 times for Academy Awards and has won twice.
Earlier this year the second volume in ‘The Randy Newman Songbook’ series, in which the songwriter takes a fresh look at his work in new solo recordings, was released. The Daily Telegraph called the album “An invigorating celebration of the joys of great songwriting and proof of the power of one man and his piano.”
“The first, and perhaps the best, of modern pop’s great storytellers. He may well be the greatest contemporary American songwriter.” The Observer