Lucy Simon
Encyclopedia
Lucy Simon is an American composer for the theatre and popular songs. She is known for the musical, The Secret Garden
.
and her parents were Richard L. Simon
, co-founder of the publishing house Simon & Schuster
and Andrea Heinemann Simon
. In addition to her younger sister Carly, she has an older sister, opera singer Joanna, and a younger brother photographer Peter. Simon grew up in Fieldston
, a section of Riverdale
in the Bronx
. She attended the Fieldston School, graduating in 1958 and Bennington College
.
Lucy Simon made her Broadway
debut as the composer of The Secret Garden
, for which she was nominated for a 1991 Tony Award for Best Original Score and a 1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music. She also wrote songs for the off-Broadway show A...My Name is Alice.
Simon's setting of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
[has been recorded by many diverse artists, including The Doobie Brothers
, Mitzie Collins
, and The Big Three (Cass Elliot
, Tim Rose
, and James Hendricks). In the seventies, Simon made two singer/songwriter-styled albums for RCA Records, the self-titled Lucy Simon, followed by Stolen Time.
She composed the music for a musical version of the Russian novel Dr. Zhivago,, with lyricists Michael Korie
and Amy Powers and book writer Michael Weller. The musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse
, San Diego, California, in May 2006. In 2011 Sydney Australia will host the new musical version starring Anthony Warlow and produced by John Frost with Des McAnuff as Director. Anthony Warlow starred in the Australian production of Lucy's The Secret Garden and at that time Lucy said of him, "There is my Zhivago". The new production of Lucy's story of Doctor Zhivago will introduce the world to a bold new musical in the grand tradition.
She has won a Grammy award
in 1981 together with her husband, David Levine, in the Best Recording for Children
category for "In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record", and again in 1983 in the same category for "In Harmony 2".
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
.
Biography
She is the older sister of musician Carly SimonCarly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
and her parents were Richard L. Simon
Richard L. Simon
Richard Leo Simon was an American businessman, Columbia University graduate, and co-founder of the publishing house Simon & Schuster. Born in New York City, his brother was music critic and author George T...
, co-founder of the publishing house Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
and Andrea Heinemann Simon
Andrea Heinemann Simon
Andrea Heinemann Simon was a community leader and mother of award-winning singer, Carly Simon.-Biography:Born Andrea Louise Heinemann as the second child of Frederick and Elma Heinemann, she was raised in Philadelphia...
. In addition to her younger sister Carly, she has an older sister, opera singer Joanna, and a younger brother photographer Peter. Simon grew up in Fieldston
Fieldston, Bronx
Fieldston is a section of the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York City. It is bounded by Manhattan College Parkway to the south, Henry Hudson Parkway to the west, 250th Street to the north and Broadway to the east....
, a section of Riverdale
Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. She attended the Fieldston School, graduating in 1958 and Bennington College
Bennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
.
Career
Simon began her professional career at the age of sixteen singing folk tunes with sister Carly and later folk-rock.Lucy Simon made her Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut as the composer of The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
, for which she was nominated for a 1991 Tony Award for Best Original Score and a 1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music. She also wrote songs for the off-Broadway show A...My Name is Alice.
Simon's setting of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
"Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" is a popular poem for children written by American writer and poet Eugene Field and published on March 9, 1889. The original title was Dutch Lullaby....
[has been recorded by many diverse artists, including The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Mitzie Collins
Mitzie Collins
Mitzie Collins is an interpreter of traditional British and American vocal and instrumental music.She has arranged many songs including Genesse County Waltzes. Collins is a renowned player of both the dulcimer and other instruments. She plays traditional music for the hammered dulcimer...
, and The Big Three (Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
, Tim Rose
Tim Rose
Timothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
, and James Hendricks). In the seventies, Simon made two singer/songwriter-styled albums for RCA Records, the self-titled Lucy Simon, followed by Stolen Time.
She composed the music for a musical version of the Russian novel Dr. Zhivago,, with lyricists Michael Korie
Michael Korie
Michael Korie is an American librettist and lyricist. Korie's works include Grey Gardens , Harvey Milk and The Grapes of Wrath . He also wrote the lyrics to Doctor Zhivago Michael Korie (born Michael Cory Indick) is an American librettist and lyricist. Korie's works include Grey Gardens...
and Amy Powers and book writer Michael Weller. The musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:...
, San Diego, California, in May 2006. In 2011 Sydney Australia will host the new musical version starring Anthony Warlow and produced by John Frost with Des McAnuff as Director. Anthony Warlow starred in the Australian production of Lucy's The Secret Garden and at that time Lucy said of him, "There is my Zhivago". The new production of Lucy's story of Doctor Zhivago will introduce the world to a bold new musical in the grand tradition.
She has won a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1981 together with her husband, David Levine, in the Best Recording for Children
Grammy Award for Best Album for Children
The Grammy Award for Best Album for Children has been awarded since 1959. Prior to 1992, the award was known as Best Recording for Children and was therefore open to any audio recording, whether it was an album, a single song, a recording of a book, or the audio from a television show or movie...
category for "In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record", and again in 1983 in the same category for "In Harmony 2".
External links
- Internet Broadway Database listing
- Pop Music and the New Musical - Working in the Theatre Seminar video at American Theatre Wing.orgAmerican Theatre WingThe American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, September 2005 - Biography at filmreference.com