NEW YORK - it took over half a century, but composers Mike Stoller and Artie Butler finally managed to cross the street.
W. 54th Street in Manhattan, to be exact. This is where the duo met first of all, in a recording studio where Stoller and his writing partner Jerry Leiber - head of the classics of the 1950s as "Hound Dog," "jailhouse Rock", "Yakety Yak," "poison ivy" and countless others - produced a record. Butler worked there as a humble "button pusher" who started the machines of tread.
Now, they have collaborated on music for a new musical, "The people in the picture", play at Studio 54, located just diagonally across the street.
Featured Donna Murphy, a two-time winner of Tony Award for "Passion" and "the King & I", which won nominations again for his role as a Jewish grandmother who is struggling to share his inheritance.
The veteran songwriting duo began their friendship in the 1960s, when a piano player could not manage a particular passage during a session.
Butler, then only 17 years, conveyed that he could play as much to the annoyance of his employer which he reprimanded for talking to clients. But Leiber and Stoller were intrigued enough to give the brash kid a shot, and when he withdrew that they immediately offered him a job as a Studio musician.
Stoller and Butler have different memories to which artist they were recording. Stoller, said Johnny Maestro. Butler insists that it is Jay Black and the Americans. But they agree that it was the beginning of a friendship all of his life.
"It was my college degree," remembers Butler. "It was the spectacle of magic Leiber, Stoller, and every day I went to look at! I have learned by osmosis. ?
Finally, Butler exploded on its own, becoming a producer, arranger and composer responsible for more of 40 gold and Platinum discs. Among his credits for writing "Is here to life," a modern classic that was recorded by such artists as Barbra Streisand and Shirley Horn.
Stoller music was heard on Broadway in "Of Smokey Joe coffee," musical revue of Leiber and Stoller songs classic hit.
But he did never composed directly for musical theatre until he was approached by Iris Rainer Dart novelist, the author of "Beaches", which asked him to work on a show she has written on a Jewish grandmother and his days as a star of the Yiddish Theatre in Warsaw of the 1930s.
Invited Stoller Dart at his home, where she read the script aloud to him. "I had tears my face, at the time where she completed", he recalls. "It's such a moving story."
DART began looking for an arranger for records demo necessary to attract donors. Someone recommended Butler, she contacted Stoller ask if he knew him, and if so, did he like it?
"Yes, I know him," Stoller replied. "And I don't like him.". I love it! ?
The two composers liquidated on the partition, in collaboration with Dart, writing the lyrics. Although the show opened to mixed, all three received Drama Desk Award nominations for their efforts.
For Butler, is the achievement of a goal of life.
"All my life I continued my dreams", he said. It is one of the greatest dreams, that I have never had. I do not understand why people take drugs. They must write a Broadway show and get it. Because nothing gets you above. ?
"People in the picture" will take place at Studio 54 on June 19.
