Gary Crawford & Barry Levitt
Two of a Kind!
August 24, 2015
By Lynn DiMenna for Cabaret Scenes
Mercer and Darin…move over! Well, that may be a bit of a stretch but, back in the day, Johnny Mercer and Bobby Darin forged a close relationship that not only produced a recorded collection of duets under the title of their co-written song, “Two of a Kind,” but also resulted in an unexpectedly deep friendship between the two mega-talents.
Enter Barry Levitt and Gary Crawford, two even more unlikely collaborators who, on September 2nd at 7 pm, will be mounting a show together at the Metropolitan Room called, Secret Dream: Gary Crawford Sings The Barry Levitt Songbook, a program of Levitt originals as performed by Crawford and a few special guests.
Levitt calls their connection “bashert,” (“destined” or “meant to be”), while Crawford prefers “serendipity,” and continues to pinch himself. Both men, Levitt at 68 and Crawford at 74, have developed a special bond as musical soulmates. They’ve become each other’s “angels” and they’ve inspired and reinvigorated their individual talents in ways that neither of them could have ever imagined. The story as to how it all came about is one for the cabaret annals!
Crawford grew up in a dysfunctional, alcoholic family and left before the age of sixteen. He fended for himself with a variety of odd jobs and, to his credit, eventually received his GED. He is now retired from years of “multi-tasking,” including stints as a hair stylist, lab technician and real estate investor. He always loved music and listened voraciously to recordings of all his favorite singers, but his own singing was done mostly in the shower or along with a karaoke machine. Until his debut last year at the Metropolitan Room, in a show to mark the release of his first CD, In Love with Love, other than at a few open mics, he had never performed before an audience.
He cared for his ill, long-time partner for nearly 10 years. Following his partner’s death, depressed and contemplating ending his own life, Crawford attended a Marilyn Maye show at the Metropolitan Room and was randomly seated with (the late) Ruth Kurtzman. Their conversation proved to be life-changing. Kurtzman encouraged him to attend the Open Mic at The Iguana, hosted by Dana Lorge and Richard Skipper, and after a year of taking copious notes and observing other singers, he finally mustered up the courage to sing himself.
That night, Crawford gave Lorge a CD of his karaoke songs and she vividly remembers listening to it on her way home thinking, “This guy is really good!” She added with characteristic enthusiasm, “He’s the most wonderful person, with a great sense of humor and he goes to everyone’s shows!”
His accompanist, “The Maestro,” Barry Levitt, was also impressed, but it wasn’t until Crawford heard Levitt sing “When You Wish Upon a Star” during a show at Feinstein’s that he sensed an almost spiritual connection with him. A session followed in which Levitt admits Crawford’s “sense of phrasing, impeccable timing and ability to swing” blew him away! At first, he didn’t believe he could possibly be as inexperienced as he claimed. There were a few rough edges, of course, but ultimately, Levitt was convinced that Crawford was just simply “a natural!”
Record promoter Len Triola concurs. Crawford came to brunch at Desmond’s Bar in New York one afternoon and sang a standard with the assembled trio and the whole place stopped and immediately paid attention. “It was like watching Frank Fontaine as “Crazy Joe” at the bar with Jackie Gleason. He has a magical voice and you can’t help but wonder where it’s coming from.”
Levitt, on the other hand, is one of the unsung heroes in the music, cabaret, jazz and theater communities in New York. Unlike Crawford, his 40 years of experience in the business of live entertainment in New York and around the country is vast and varied. As a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and educator, there are very few musical hats he hasn’t worn.
As a pianist, he’s accompanied many of the greatest singers of our time, from Sergio Franchi to Connie Francis, Margaret Whiting, Rosemary Clooney, Marilyn Maye, Enzo Stuarti, Julius La Rosa and Robert Cuccioli. Classical, pop, jazz, Broadway, Off-Broadway, leading orchestras around the country and producing original cast and solo recordings…he’s done it all! He’s won numerous awards, been President of The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, Producing Artistic Director of Lyrics and Lyricists at the 92nd St. Y and, oh, I almost forgot, teaches his own master class every week to aspiring singers as well as accompanying many of Marilyn Maye’s master classes.
An extraordinary résumé by any measure, and good reason to consider retiring, but there was also this long-forgotten, treasure trove of songs he composed during the ’80s with his wife, Brenda, daughter, Dori, and Jack Wrangler, among others, that were all still stored in boxes in his garage. Thinking that some of them would suit Crawford’s sound and style, he was motivated to dust them off and revisit them.
Much to his surprise and delight, Crawford responded by re-writing the lyrics to at least four of the songs that will be included in the showcase at the Metropolitan Room. Finally, the long, overdue Barry Levitt Songbook will be presented in grand style by two native sons of Newark…Levitt & Crawford. In addition to becoming an exciting, new songwriting team, they just might also bring new meaning to the term “Jersey Boys!”
Triola further points out that the New York cabaret scene is the only place where someone like the great Marilyn Maye or a talented newcomer like Gary Crawford can come along, “with a sparkling stage presence and a spark of yesteryear” and be welcomed and embraced by the whole community.
He adds, “It’s great for everyone in our business!”
Editor’s Note:
Gary & Barry are at the Metropolitan Room September 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm and October 14 at 7 pm and November 24 at 7:30. For more information, visit www.metropolitanroom.com