Steve Lawrence

For other people named Steve Lawrence, see Steve Lawrence (disambiguation).
Steve Lawrence

Lawrence with wife Eydie Gormé.
Background information
Birth name Sidney Liebowitz
Born (1935-07-08) July 8, 1935
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres Big band, swing, traditional pop music
Occupation(s) Singer, actor
Years active 1957–present

Steven "Steve" Lawrence (born July 8, 1935) is an American singer and actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as "Steve and Eydie." The two appeared together since appearing regularly on Tonight Starring Steve Allen in the mid-1950s until Gormé's retirement in 2009.[1][2]

Personal life

Lawrence was born Sidney Liebowitz[2] in Brooklyn to Jewish parents, Victor, a baker who owned his own bakery on White Plains Road in The Bronx, and Helen, his mother who ran the business. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Steve also attended PS 174 in the East New York section across from his house, and later went to PS 109 in the Brownsville section. PS 174 is being used to this date.

Marriage and family

Lawrence and Gorme with sons David (left) and Michael (right). Gene Kelly is also pictured with his son, Tim (left) and daughter, Bridget (right). Kelly was a guest on the couple's 1975 television special, "Our Love Is Here to Stay".

Lawrence and Gormé married on December 29, 1957 at the El Rancho Hotel[2] in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] They had two sons together. David Nessim Lawrence (b. 1960) is an ASCAP Award-winning composer who composed the score for High School Musical. Michael Robert Lawrence (1962–1986) died suddenly from ventricular fibrillation resulting from an undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 23.[3] Michael was an assistant editor for a television show at the time of his death and was apparently healthy despite a previous diagnosis of slight arrhythmia.

Gormé and Lawrence were in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time of Michael's death, having performed at the Fox Theater the night before. Upon learning of the tragedy, family friend Frank Sinatra sent his private plane to fly the couple to New York to meet David, who was attending school at the time. Following their son's death, Gormé and Lawrence took a year off before touring again.[3]

Eydie Gormé died on August 10, 2013, six days shy of her 85th birthday.

Career

In the late 1950s, Steve Lawrence was drafted into the Army and served as the official vocal soloist with The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, D.C.

Lawrence had success on the record charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with such hits as "Go Away Little Girl" (U.S. #1), "Pretty Blue Eyes" (U.S. #9), "Footsteps" (U.S. #7), "Portrait of My Love" (U.S. #9), and "Party Doll" (U.S. #5). "Go Away Little Girl" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[4] However, much of his musical career has centered on nightclubs and the musical stage. He is also an actor, appearing in guest roles on television shows in every decade since the 1950s,[5] in shows such as The Danny Kaye Show, The Judy Garland Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Julie Andrews Hour, Night Gallery, The Flip Wilson Show, Police Story, Murder, She Wrote, Gilmore Girls, and CSI. In the fall of 1965, Lawrence was briefly the star of a variety show called The Steve Lawrence Show, "one of the last television shows in black and white on CBS."[2]

He and Gormé appeared together in the Broadway musical Golden Rainbow, which ran from February 1968 until January 1969. Although the show was not a huge success (a summary of this experience is chronicled in unflattering detail in William Goldman's 1968 book The Season),[6] the show contained the memorable song "I've Gotta Be Me." This song was originally sung by Lawrence at the end of the first act of the musical; Sammy Davis, Jr. would later record a version of the song that became a Top 40 hit in 1969.[7] None less than the Chairman of the Board himself, Francis Albert Sinatra, is known to have repeatedly stated that the best male vocalist Sinatra had ever heard was Steve Lawrence.

He starred as Gary McBride in the 1972 film Stand Up and Be Counted, opposite Jacqueline Bisset and Stella Stevens. In 1980, he was introduced to a new generation of fans with his portrayal of Maury Sline in The Blues Brothers, and later reprised the role in the 1998 sequel Blues Brothers 2000. His other films include the Steve Martin comedy The Lonely Guy (1984) and the crime thriller The Yards (2000).

In 1984, he and comic Don Rickles hosted ABC's Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders.

In 1985, Steve and Eydie Gorme played Tweedledee (Gorme) and Tweedledum (Lawrence) in Steve Allen's film adaption of "Alice in Wonderland"

He played Mark McCormick's father, Sonny Daye, in two episodes of Hardcastle and McCormick. In 1999, he appeared as the much-talked about, but never really seen, Morty Fine, father of Fran Fine in a few of the final episodes of The Nanny. In 2011, he portrayed Jack, a wealthy love interest of Betty White's character, Elka Ostrovsky, on Hot in Cleveland. In 2014, he guest-starred in an episode of Two and a Half Men on CBS, and sang the theme song to the parody miniseries The Spoils of Babylon.

Awards

Lawrence received a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Sammy Glick in What Makes Sammy Run? on Broadway (1964),[1] and two Emmy Awards, one for production for Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (1978).

With Gormé, he has been the recipient of two Emmies for Our Love is Here to Stay, a tribute to George and Ira Gershwin; a "Best Performance By a Vocal Duo or Group" Grammy Award for We Got Us; a Film Advisory Board's Award of Excellence and a Television Critics Circle Award for From This Moment On, a tribute to Cole Porter.

The duo also won a Las Vegas Entertainment Award for "Musical Variety Act of the Year" four times, three of them consecutively. They were honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame,[8] and in 1995 were the recipients of an Ella Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Singers,[1][8] a non-profit organization that helps professional singers with counseling and financial assistance.

Albums

Singles

Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		 Chart positions Album
US CB US
AC		 US
R&B		 UK[9]
1952 "Poinciana"
b/w "Never Leave Me"		 21 — — — — Steve Lawrence
"All My Love Belongs To You"
b/w "Mine and Mine Alone" (from Steve Lawrence)		 — — — — — Non-album track
1953 "How Many Stars Have To Shine"
b/w "Tango Of Roses"		 26 — — — — Steve Lawrence
"To The Birds"
b/w "With Every Breath I Take" (from Steve Lawrence)		 — — — — — Non-album track
"King For A Day"
b/w "You Can't Hold A Memory In Your Arms" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — Steve Lawrence
1954 "Too Little Time"
b/w "Remember Me (You Taught Me To Love)" 		— — — — — Non-album tracks
"I Need"
b/w "Liebchen" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — Steve Lawrence
1955 "Adelaide"
b/w "The Lord Is A Busy Man" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — Songs By Steve Lawrence
"The Chicken and The Hawk"
b/w "Speedo" 		— — — — — Non-album tracks
1957 "The Banana Boat Song"
b/w Long Before I Knew You"		 18 5 — — — Songs By Steve Lawrence
"Party Doll" / 5 1 — — —
"(The Bad Donkey) Pum-Pa-Lum" 45 — — — —
"Can't Wait For Summer" / 42 38 — — —
"Fabulous" 71 — — — —
"Fraulein"
b/w "Blue Rememberin' You" (Non-album track)		 54 41 — — — Here's Steve Lawrence
"At A Time Like This"
b/w "A Long Last Look"		 — — — — — Non-album tracks
"Geisha Girl"
b/w "I Don't Know"		 — — — — —
1958 "Uh-Huh, Oh Yeah"
b/w "Lover In The House" (from All About Love)		 73 52 — — —
"Stranger In Mexico"
b/w "Those Nights At The Round Table"		 — — — — —
"Many A Time"
b/w "All About Love" (from All About Love)		 97 100 — — —
1959 "Lover In The House"
b/w "Blah-Blah-Blah"		 — — — — — All About Love
"(I Don't Care) Only Love Me"
b/w "Loving Is A Way Of Living"		 62 72 — — — The Best Of Steve Lawrence
"There'll Be Some Changes Made"
b/w "You're Everything Wonderful"		 — — — — — Swing Softly With Me
"Pretty Blue Eyes"
b/w "You're Nearer"		 9 7 — — — The Best Of Steve Lawrence
1960 "Footsteps"
b/w "You Don't Know"		 7 9 — — 4
"Girls, Girls, Girls"
b/w "Little Boy Blue"		 — 82 — — 49 Non-album tracks
"Why, Why, Why"
b/w "You're Everything Wonderful" (from Swing Softly With Me)		 — 110 — — — The Best Of Steve Lawrence
"Come Back Silly Girl"
b/w "Going Steady" (Non-album track)		 — 112 — — —
"Hansel and Gretel"
b/w "Tears From Heaven"		 — 122 — — — Non-album tracks
1961 "Portrait Of My Love"
b/w "Oh How You Lied" (Non-album track)		 9 11 — — — Portrait Of My Love
"My Clair De Lune" / 68 88 13 — — The Very Best Of Steve Lawrence
"In Time" 94 90 19 — — Non-album track
"Somewhere Along The Way"
b/w "While There's Still Time"		 67 104 16 — — The Very Best Of Steve Lawrence
1962 "Our Concerto"
b/w "Send Someone To Love Me"		 107 116 — — — Non-album tracks
"The Lady Wants To Twist"
b/w "Tell Her I Said Hello"		 120 144 — — —
"House Without Windows"
b/w "The Endless Night"		 — 132 — — —
"Go Away Little Girl"
b/w "If You Love Her Tell Her So" (Non-album track)		 1 1 1 14 — Winners!
1963 "Don't Be Afraid, Little Darlin'"
b/w "Don't Come Running Back"		 26 19 12 — — Non-album tracks
"Poor Little Rich Girl" / 27 36 11 — —
"More" 117 113 — — — Everybody Knows
"Walking Proud"
b/w "All The Way Home"		 26 27 — — — Non-album tracks
1964 "My Home Town" / 106 113 — — — "What Makes Sammy Run?" Original Broadway Cast soundtrack
"A Room Without Windows" 120 tag — — —
"Everybody Knows"
b/w "One Love Too Late" (Non-album track)		 72 57 18 — — Everybody Knows
"Yet...I Know"
b/w "Put Away Your Teardrops" (Non-album track)		 77 68 15 — —
1965 "Bewitched..." / 103 — — — — Non-album tracks
"I Will Wait For You" 113 113 — — —
"Last Night I Made a Little Girl Cry" / 126 tag — — —
"Where Can I Go" — 106 — — — Steve Lawrence's Greatest Hits
"Millions Of Roses"
b/w "The Sounds Of Summer" (Non-album track)		 106 118 11 — — The Steve Lawrence Show
1966 "The Week-End" / 131 117 24 — — Non-album tracks
"Only The Young" — 128 — — —
"The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men"
b/w "I'm A Fool To Want You"		 — — 36 — — Steve Lawrence Sings Of Love and Sad Young Men
"I'm Making The Same Mistakes Again"
b/w "Today Will Be Yesterday Tomorrow" 		— — — — — Non-album tracks
"The Warm Hours"
b/w "Good Times" (from Love and Sad Young Men)		 — — — — — The Steve Lawrence Show
1967 "The Girl In The White Glove"
b/w "Did I Ever Really Live"		 — — — — — Non-album tracks
"Sweet Maria"
b/w "The Impossible Dream"		 — 137 23 — — Steve Lawrence's Greatest Hits
"You've Got To Learn"
b/w "Remember When"		 — — — — — Non-album tracks
"I've Gotta Be Me"
b/w "Life's A Gamble" (Non-album track)		 — — 6 — — "Golden Rainbow" Original Broadway Cast soundtrack
1968 "I Want To Be With You"
b/w "Dulcinea" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — Steve Lawrence's Greatest Hits
"Runaround"
b/w "I'm Falling Down (Into Wonderland)"		 — — 27 — — Non-album tracks
1969 "The Drifter"
b/w "To Say Goodbye"		 — — 14 — —
"Pickin' Up The Pieces"
b/w "I've Got My Eyes On You"		 — — — — — I've Gotta Be Me
1970 "Mama, A Rainbow"
b/w "Cry For Us All" (Non-album track)		 — — 38 — — On A Clear Day Steve Lawrence Sings Up A Storm
"Groovin'"
b/w "Being Alive"		 — — 25 — — Non-album tracks
1971 "Lookin' Good"
b/w "Frosty Morning" 		— — — — —
1972 "Ain't No Sunshine/You Are My Sunshine"
b/w "In My Own Lifetime"		 — — 24 — —
1973 "Hello, Los Angeles"
b/w "The Best Thing That Ever Happened" 		— — — — —
"The End (At The End Of A Rainbow)"
b/w "You Light Up My Life"		 — — 46 — —
1975 "Now That We're In Love"
b/w "I Just Need Your Lovin'"		 — — 16 — —
1976 "You Take My Heart Away"
b/w "(Everybody Has To) Begin, Again" 		— — — — —
1984 "We're In L.A."
B-side unknown		 — — — — —

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Biography from Las Vegas Online
  2. 1 2 3 4 2003 Interview with Larry King, from a CNN website (web archive from Wayback Machine)
  3. 1 2 Ahmed, Saeed (August 11, 2013). "Singer Eydie Gorme dies at 84". CNN. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 147. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ↑ Steve Lawrence at the Internet Movie Database
  6. ↑ William Goldman, The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway, New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1969. p. 310. ("Harnick shook his head sadly and said, 'The trouble with washing garbage is that when you're done, it's still garbage.' This was the story of Golden Rainbow, as we shall see.")
  7. ↑ AllMusic.com, "I've Gotta Be Me." (Davis' version peaked at number 24.)
  8. 1 2 Official website of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé
  9. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 314. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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