Lee Lessack has captivated audiences across the US with his powerful and loving renditions of musical theater classics. He also runs his own music label that has a quite a sizable collection of talented singers and performers on his roster, including Kathie Lee Gifford, Stephen Schwartz and Nancy LaMott. He will be performing a run of shows covering the work of composer Johnny Mercer in NYC and the surrounding towns.
CS: What do you find about Johnny Mercer in particular that speaks to you?
LL: I find Mercer’s lyrics very seductive. They wrap around the listener’s heart and they linger. I think that’s why his songs live on from generation to generation.
How do you nurture the careers of the artists on LML Music, and how do you choose new artists to bring into the fold?
I’ve been recording and distributing this “boutique” label for 15 years and over time I’ve learned (and am still learning) what works and what doesn’t work. I try to pass that on to new artists so I can hopefully save them from learning the hard way whenever possible. Mostly artists find me – I don’t ever really go out looking for new artists…however the “right” ones usually show up at the right time.
When did you switch from being simply a fan of Broadway music to realizing that performing it was a viable career choice?
Probably in my early 30’s – I had been working as an assistant to the actor Henry Winkler, so the only musical outlet that worked in that crazy 24/7 schedule was performing at local cabaret/jazz venues here in LA. Once I left my job with Henry it occurred to me that there must be venues outside of the major cities where I had been performing (LA, NY, SF, Chicago etc). So I created a concert of all Broadway favorites with a female co-star and we started touring the country with it.
What new musicals or cabaret shows are you most excited about?
Last time I was in NYC I saw “In The Heights” which I absolutely loved. This trip I’ve got tickets to “Billy Elliott” and “Next to Normal” which I’m so excited to see. One of my clients, Alice Ripley, is starring in “Normal” and nominated for the Tony®, which is pretty thrilling.
There are so many elements involved in putting on a successful live performance. How do you go about attacking all of those to make sure everything is perfectly in place?
I think if you do your homework when writing your show it will serve you for years to come. I like to create concerts that have a pretty solid through-line and a nice dramatic arc because as an audience member I want to be taken on a journey when I see a performance. Most of the concerts I perform have that element and it makes my job so much easier when I walk onto the stage because I know exactly where the train is going….then of course, you discover some new “stops” along the way depending on the energy of the audience.
Lee’s performance schedule is as follows:
June 6th @ 8:30 PM – Harlan’s (New Hope, PA) • Reservations: (215) 862-5225
June 7th @ 7:30 PM – The Castle (Tarrytown, NY) • Reservations: (914) 631-3646
June 8th & 14th @ 9:30 PM – Metropolitan Room (NYC) • Reservations: (212) 206-0440
Andrew Singer performs all over the NYC as comedic rapper “soce, the elemental wizard.” He has toured Europe and the U.S., and been featured on numerous media outlets, including MTV, VH1, Here TV, Logo, The Source, Out, Howard Stern and Sirius Shade 45. His CDs are available in store and online at Other Music.
Last 5 posts by Andrew Singer
- Vodka Shoes - March 4th, 2010
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