Milton Schafer (September 24, 1920 – April 12, 2020[1]) was an American composer and pianist. After being a runner-up for first prize in the Texas-based national guild of piano teachers competition, Schafer continued his studies for a year in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He returned to the U.S. to give his Town Hall début as a pianist in 1950, receiving very favorable reviews and performed there again in 1954.

He worked as musical assistant (accompanist and adviser) to Bob Merrill ("(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?") for two years and after a stint at MGM in Hollywood, Vernon Duke signed him as a composer with Frank Loesser's publishing company, Frank Music.

His first (unproduced) musical was The Happy Time based on Samuel Taylor's play (and not Kander and Ebb’s later musical of the same name), for which he wrote both lyrics and music. This was followed by an album of children’s songs recorded by Danny Kaye, called Mommy Gimme a Drinka Water[2] for which he also wrote music and lyrics. His first produced musical was Bravo Giovanni![3] which was nominated for a Tony in 1962, and which starred Cesare Siepi and Michele Lee. This was followed in 1965 by Drat! The Cat![3][4] starring Elliott Gould and Lesley Ann Warren, with lyrics and book by Ira Levin, from which score Barbra Streisand recorded “He Touched Me”[5] (originally titled She Touched Me).

Cultural legacy

Schafer's song "Crazy Barbara" was adapted as a children's picture book, That Crazy Barb'ra, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Dial Press 2003; ISBN 0803725841)

References

  1. ↑ Broadway Composer Milton Schafer Has Passed Away: Broadway World. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ Suskin, Steven (May 29, 2003). Broadway Yearbook 2001-2002: A Relevant and Irreverent Record. Oxford University Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-19-515877-9. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Osborne, Jerry (November 2002). Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Recordings Price and Reference Guide. Jerry Osborne Enterprises. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-932117-37-3. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Shea, Tom (September 30, 2004). Broadway's Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of Dynamic Divas, Surefire Showstoppers, and Box-Office Busts. Potomac Books, Inc. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-61234-033-3. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ Trager, James (26 October 2004). The New York Chronology: The Ultimate Compendium of Events, People, and Anecdotes from the Dutch to the Present. HarperCollins. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-06-074062-7. Retrieved 9 October 2012.

Additional references

  • "Mommy, Gimme a Drinka Water!"/"Bathtub Admiral" b/w "Crazy Barbara"/"I'm Five!", 45 rpm single, performed by Danny Kaye, orchestration by Gordon Jenkins. Capitol Records EAP 1-937
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