Sheldon Harnick was amazed that Tony B. Babino sang exactly like Jolson and even put a spin on Harnick's song "Sunrise, Sunset" and sang it as if he were Jolson himself and it was perfect. Sheldon's eyes welled up and so did mine. That song is sensational and will always be thrilling when applied to the right event. Sheldon is 88 and you would think he was but 65. His dad, a dentist, loved Jolson, always thrilled by his music. Of course, Sheldon has written for the Broadway stage for many years and has collected 10 Emmy's, 9 for Fiddler, and one Pulitzer Prize ( for the drama of Fiorello, a musical he did with Jerry Bock, the composer of both Fiorello and Fiddler.) And, he is still at it, recently composed a new musical not yet released, but soon it will be known and performed on off Broadway. I spent the day with Sheldon and he spent some slow moments reading through my book "When Jolson Was King," and took home a copy. The man is humble and gracious in his manner and has become a true friend. Incidentally he also wrote the song " Artificial Flowers" which helped make Bobby Darin a recording star.

Today, August 18th 2012 at the Al Jolson festival in Oceanside, NY,  have had the privilege of introducing Sheldon Harnick a true icon of Broadway. A man who has become one of the leading lyricists in a class with Oscar Hammerstein II, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, and Irving Berlin. His lyrics written for the great Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof” will be performed forever over and over and,  all over the world.  The song “ Sunrise, Sunset” will be performed forever wherever music is cherished. 

This man has earned the coveted Pulitzer Prize for  drama for his work in the musical “Fiorello” as well as an Emmy---- and nine Emmy’s for Fiddler,  shared with his partner,  the late composer Jerry Bock.

O'Shaughnessy Accolade

The great William O'Shaughnessy, author of many books including his newest Vox Populi, the O'Shaughnessy Files has complimented my writings in his new book. He autographed it " For Richard Grudens-America's great historian of all the great music makers of our time."  Well I'm genuinely honored by someone who has succeeded in radio and the press. In every O'Saughnessy book, there is stunning and powerful wisdom and brilliant observations from Governor Mario Cuomo whom he so admires. Howard Stern calls him the white-haired mogul and Brooke Astor says his writings are marvelous.

RICHARD GRUDENS-INTERVIEWS OVER THE YEARS

115 COUNT AS OF 4/23/12 

GUY MITCHELL FRAN WARREN BEA WAIN

RED NORVO LARRY ELGART HERB JEFFRIES

BENNY GOODMAN W.B. WILLIAMS CLINT EASTWOOD

WOODY HERMAN CONNIE HAINES BILLY GRAHAM

COUNT BASIE JANE RUSSELL SHIRLEY JONES

ANN JILLIAN RHONDA FLEMING PAT BOONE

BOB HOPE KATHRYN CROSBY FRANCES LANGFORD

LIONEL  HAMPTON JOHNNY MINCE LARRY GELBART

TEDDY WILSON JOHNNY MATHIS ED MCMAHON

HARRY JAMES ARTIE SHAW SID CAESAR

BILL CHALLIS LES BROWN BUDDY HACKETT

JOE FRANKLIN JOE WILLIAMS DIZZY GILLESPIE

MARGARET WHITING TONY B. BABINO SARAH VAUGHAN

HELEN O’CONNELL DORIS DAY KITTY KALLEN

FRANKIE LAINE KAY STARR HELEN FORREST

LENNON SISTERS ROSEMARY CLOONEY TERESA BREWER

BRIAN SISTERS BILLY ECKSTINE LYNN ROBERTS

WARREN COVINGTON BUDDY MORROW EDDY ARNOLD

CHARLES DURNING MITCH MILLER PHILIP CROSBY

LOIS HUNT PATRICE MUNSEL DICK CLARK

EARL WRIGHTSON BEVERLY ROBERTS JANET CANTOR

JO STAFFORD AL MARTINO DIANA KRALL

PATTY ANDREWS TONY BENNETT AL COLLINS (JAZZB)

MILLS BROTHERS JIMMY ROSELLI DOLLY DAWN

LARRY O’BRIEN JULIUS LA ROSA ANITA O’DAY

RAY ANTHONY CARMEL QUINN GLORIA JEAN

JERRY VALE VIC DAMONE LES PAUL

DON CORNELL DOM DE LUISE JOHN MILLER

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN CHARLTON HESTON WILLARD ALEXANDER

SKITCH HENDERSON TOM POSTILIO BUDDY RICH

PHYLLIS DILLER SALLY BENNETT DARYL SHERMAN

RICHARD SUDHALTER PEGGY LEE CY COLEMAN

TEX BENEKE JAY LEONHART JULIA RICH

ERVIN DRAKE JACK LAWRENCE BILLY MAY

VAN ALEXANDER LEE HALE DON RICKLES

TONY MARTIN BUDDY GRECO MEL TORME

SYBIL JASON JACK JONES HUGH HEFNER

CRISTINA FONTANELLI GIA PRIMA DIANA ROSS

The O'Shaughnessy Touch

Well another honor has crossed my desk, and since life is really short, honors are always appreciated, especially coming from William O'Shaughnessy, recent author of Vox Populi. Bill has dubbed me "America's great historian of all the great music-makers of our time..." He should talk. He is the greatest of all that and more being one of the best known broadcasters in America. He has written 5 books about all the people he has interviewed and they are the greats in politics, media, the arts and people in the popular culture. Even author David McCullough says that he always looks forward to reading Bill's newest book. Boy,that is an honor. In Vox Populi he talks about departed friends Tim Russert, Robert Merrill, and Ossie Davis, among many others who are still with us.  You'd love his books. They are vast and interesting.

Dick Clark is gone. Unhappy new year.

I knew Dick Clark, as he appeared in several of my books for one reason or another. He was always among the first to order my newest book, usually three of them. He always called his order in, unlike most who mailed in solicitations sent to my regulars on the mailing list. Once he sent back a signed and addressed photo that I cherish. I first was introduced to him when we talked by phone about bandleader Larry Elgart who wrote the American Bandstand theme. Dick was always a nice guy in every sense of the word. I wish I would have known him better which is hard to do when you are 3000 miles apart and both busy with different projects.Dick Clark will appear in my next book in a full chapter. The book will be about those people who were always behind the scenes promoting and building careers of singers and musicians, people like Dick, Ed Sullivan, Major Bowes, Ted Mack Martin Block, MItch Miller, John Hammond, Arthur Godfrey, Steve Allen, William B. Williams, Willard Alexander, Alan Freed, Jan Murray and others who advanced the performers. It will be caled THE MUSIC MAKERS. See you then. And may God bless Dick Clark.

The Wonderful Brian Sisters

Recently, we discovered three singing sisters who sang mostly in the movies, in fact they sang in 15 movies and their voices were extraordinary. From the earliest time the girls had God-given talents and were able to sing in Perfect Harmony. They appear in my new book Perfect Harmony along with over 50 other groups that are profiled. The girls are Doris, Betty and Gwen. The girls began singing at the of 4, 6 and 8 being guided and tutored by their young mother, Meda, who drove them to Hollywood in their 1929 Model T Ford. She brought them to radio and film studios and landed work for them. Lately I have talking with Doris, now in her late 70s. she has contributed information and photos for the book and I urge you not to miss this book. Everybody is in it. Patty Andrews wrote the foreword, and she is 94. You will meet the Lennon Sisters, The Boswell Sisters, The Four Freshmen, the Pied Pipers, the Beatles, the Temptations, the Beach Boys, and so much more. See you in Perfect Harmony.