Michael Preston Barr
Encyclopedia
Michael Barr was born January 2, 1927 in Indiana
and died May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles
, California
from complications arising from diabetes. Mr. Barr was an American
composer of traditional pop and showtunes, who in collaboration with lyricist Dion McGregor
, wrote "Try Your Wings" for cabaret singer/pianist Blossom Dearie
. "Try Your Wings" was also recorded and performed for many years by Anita O'Day
and was featured in the 2003 film My Life Without Me, starring Sara Polly and Mark Rufallo. Together, Barr and McGregor also wrote "Where Is The Wonder", which was recorded by Barbra Streisand
and featured on her 1965 TV special "My Name Is Barbra".
Mr. Barr was also known for having tape-recorded Dion McGregor's surprisingly lucid and humorous "somniloquies", or sleep-talks, in which Dion would narrate complete stories with beginning, middle and end. These can be heard via recordings released originally by Decca Records and later, by Torpor Vigil Industries, the first of which is "The Further Somniloquies of Dion McGregor". John Zorn's Tzadik label also released a CD--a sequel to the LP
, called Dion McGregor Dreams Again. The superb liner notes by compilation co-ordinator Phil Milstein describe details of the meeting of Michael Barr and Dion McGregor and of how these extraordinary recordings came to be.
Mr. Barr was working on a movie-musical version of The Dream World Of Dion McGregor which was originally released as an LP through Decca Records in January, 1964. The movie adaptation includes, in addition to the somniliquies songs which comment on them, most of which were written by Mr. Barr and Dion McGregor.
There was also a documentary in the works by Markham Street Films at the time of his passing.
Other songs by Michael Barr included "Kicks", recorded in 1956 by June Christy
and Billy May
for Capitol Records. "Hello Love", with lyrics by McGregor and recorded by Blossom Dearie on Verve Records in 1960, "Sawdust Dreams", and "Be My Next" were early unreleased recordings by Joel Grey, The "Hate Song",was originally performed the Upstairs At The Downstairs nightclub in New York City, by Ceil Cabot and Bill Hinnant with William Roy at the piano. It was recorded on MGM Records. "Leaving By Dawn", a commercial torchy version of the earlier "Dion At Dawn", which, in turn, is a rewrite of "Blue Town", and the Gershwinesque "Make Do", which was recorded by Gayle La Rone on her premiere CD, "The Best Is Yet To Come",has lyrics by Patrick "Bas" Ramsey.
In later life Michael experienced continually failing health brought on by diabetes. He was 82 at the time of his passing.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and died May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from complications arising from diabetes. Mr. Barr was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer of traditional pop and showtunes, who in collaboration with lyricist Dion McGregor
Dion McGregor
Dion McGregor was a New York City-born songwriter, whose main claim to fame is that he was a voluble dreamer, or somniloquist.As a songwriter, McGregor's biggest success came when his song "Where Is The Wonder" was recorded by Barbra Streisand on her hit album My Name Is Barbra...
, wrote "Try Your Wings" for cabaret singer/pianist Blossom Dearie
Blossom Dearie
Blossom Dearie was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her girlish voice.-Early career:...
. "Try Your Wings" was also recorded and performed for many years by Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
and was featured in the 2003 film My Life Without Me, starring Sara Polly and Mark Rufallo. Together, Barr and McGregor also wrote "Where Is The Wonder", which was recorded by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
and featured on her 1965 TV special "My Name Is Barbra".
Mr. Barr was also known for having tape-recorded Dion McGregor's surprisingly lucid and humorous "somniloquies", or sleep-talks, in which Dion would narrate complete stories with beginning, middle and end. These can be heard via recordings released originally by Decca Records and later, by Torpor Vigil Industries, the first of which is "The Further Somniloquies of Dion McGregor". John Zorn's Tzadik label also released a CD--a sequel to the LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, called Dion McGregor Dreams Again. The superb liner notes by compilation co-ordinator Phil Milstein describe details of the meeting of Michael Barr and Dion McGregor and of how these extraordinary recordings came to be.
Mr. Barr was working on a movie-musical version of The Dream World Of Dion McGregor which was originally released as an LP through Decca Records in January, 1964. The movie adaptation includes, in addition to the somniliquies songs which comment on them, most of which were written by Mr. Barr and Dion McGregor.
There was also a documentary in the works by Markham Street Films at the time of his passing.
Other songs by Michael Barr included "Kicks", recorded in 1956 by June Christy
June Christy
June Christy , born Shirley Luster, was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool...
and Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
for Capitol Records. "Hello Love", with lyrics by McGregor and recorded by Blossom Dearie on Verve Records in 1960, "Sawdust Dreams", and "Be My Next" were early unreleased recordings by Joel Grey, The "Hate Song",was originally performed the Upstairs At The Downstairs nightclub in New York City, by Ceil Cabot and Bill Hinnant with William Roy at the piano. It was recorded on MGM Records. "Leaving By Dawn", a commercial torchy version of the earlier "Dion At Dawn", which, in turn, is a rewrite of "Blue Town", and the Gershwinesque "Make Do", which was recorded by Gayle La Rone on her premiere CD, "The Best Is Yet To Come",has lyrics by Patrick "Bas" Ramsey.
In later life Michael experienced continually failing health brought on by diabetes. He was 82 at the time of his passing.