Composer Marvin Hamlisch Dies at 68

Composer, conductor and songwriter Marvin Hamlisch, known for his legendary music in Hollywood and on Broadway has died in Los Angeles.

FOX News Radio’s Sabrina Sabbagh reports from LA:

READ a statement from Marvin Hamlisch’s publicist Sunshine Sachs:

“Famed composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch collapsed after a brief illness and died yesterday, his family announced. He was 68.

Known as the “people’s composer,” Hamlisch won virtually every major award: three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, and three Golden Globes. He was the youngest student to be admitted by Manhattan’s Julliard School of Music.

Hamlisch composed more than forty motion picture scores, including his Oscar-winning score and song for “The Way We Were,” and his adaptation of Scott Joplin’s music for “The Sting,” for which he received a third Oscar. His prolific output of film scores includes original compositions and/or musical adaptations for “Sophie’s Choice,” “Ordinary People,” “The Swimmer,” “Three Men and a Baby,” “Ice Castles,” “Take the Money and Run,” Bananas,” “Save the Tiger,” “The Informant!,” and his latest effort, “Behind the Candelabra,” a film about the life of Liberace.

On Broadway, Hamlisch wrote the music for his groundbreaking show, “A Chorus Line,” which received the Pulitzer Prize, as well as “They’re Playing Our Song,” “The Goodbye Girl” and “Sweet Smell of Success.” He was scheduled to leave for Nashville later this week to see his hit musical, “The Nutty Professor.” He was also working on a new Broadway musical called “Gotta Dance.”

At the time of his death, Hamlisch held the position of Principal Pops Conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Pops, Seattle Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Next week, he was to be announced as the Principal Pops Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Hamlisch was also due to conduct the New York Philharmonic in its upcoming New Year’s Eve concert.

He is survived by Terre, his wife of 25 years.”

READ a statement from friend of Marvin Hamlisch, Nancy Reagan:

“Marvin Hamlisch was a dear friend and I am truly stunned by his death at such a young age. I heard him say once that he was old fashioned and I suppose that’s why Ronnie and I were so drawn to him, but I don’t think you could ever find a more contemporary and talented musician. During our time at the White House, he entertained at many events – he even let me sing with him a few times, but luckily his piano music drowned out my voice! And I’ll never forget that he wrote a special song for Ronnie’s surprise 77th birthday party in 1988.

My heart goes out to Terre at this difficult time.”

READ a statement from friend of Marvin Hamlisch, Barbra Streisand:

“I’m devastated. He was my dear friend. He’s been in my life ever since the first day I met him in 1963, when he was my rehearsal pianist for “Funny Girl.” He played at my wedding in 1998? and recently for me at a benefit for women’s heart disease. The world will remember Marvin for his brilliant musical accomplishments, from “A Chorus Line” to “The Way We Were,” and so many others, but when I think of him now, it was his brilliantly quick mind, his generosity, and delicious sense of humor that made him a delight to be around. Just last night, I was trying to reach him, to tell him how much I loved him, and that I wanted to use an old song of his, that I had just heard for the first time. He was a true musical genius, but above all that, he was a beautiful human being. I will truly miss him.”