Lucy Elizabeth Simon (May 5, 1940 – October 20, 2022) was an American singer and composer for the theatre and of popular songs. She recorded and performed as a singer and songwriter, and was known for the musicals The Secret Garden (1991) and Doctor Zhivago (2011).
In 1963, Simon began performing with her sister Carly Simon as the Simon Sisters. The duo released three albums, beginning with Meet the Simon Sisters, which featured the song "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod"; based on the poem by Eugene Field, the song became a minor hit and reached No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. Simon won a Grammy Award in 1981 with her husband, David Levine, in the Best Recording for Children category for In Harmony, and again in 1983 in the same category for In Harmony 2. Simon received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for composing the music for the Broadway musical The Secret Garden.
Early life and education
Simon was born in New York City on May 5, 1940. Her father, Richard L. Simon, was the co-founder of the book publisher Simon & Schuster, Inc.; her mother, Andrea (Heinemann) Simon, was a former switchboard operator, civil rights activist, and singer. She was the older sister of musician Carly Simon.--> "10 percent black"), and was sent to England and raised by nuns until the age of sixteen.
In addition to her younger sister Carly, she had an older sister, opera singer Joanna, and a younger brother, photographer Peter. Simon grew up in Fieldston, a section of Riverdale in the Bronx. She attended the Fieldston School, before studying at Bennington College, graduating in 1962.
Career
Simon began her professional career singing folk tunes with sister Carly Simon as the Simon Sisters and later folk-rock. Simon's setting of "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" In the mid-1970s, after a number of years away from recording, Lucy released two albums on the RCA Victor label of mostly original compositions, along with a few collaborations and covers. Her self-titled debut album was more folk-rock in orientation while her second album, Stolen Time, had a contemporary pop sound. Simon won a Grammy Award in 1981 with her husband, David Levine, in the Best Recording for Children category for In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record, and again in 1983 in the same category for In Harmony 2.
She composed the music for a musical version of the Russian novel Doctor Zhivago, with lyricists Michael Korie and Amy Powers and book writer Michael Weller. The musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California, in May 2006. A new version of Doctor Zhivago ran in Sydney, Australia, Melbourne, and Brisbane in 2011 under the title Doctor Zhivago – A New Musical, starring Anthony Warlow in the title role and Lucy Maunder as Lara, the sensitive doctor's secret muse. The musical was produced by John Frost with Des McAnuff directing. Anthony Warlow starred in the Australian production of The Secret Garden and at that time Simon said of him, "There is my Zhivago". The musical premiered on Broadway on March 27, 2015 (previews), with an official opening on April 21, 2015, at the Broadway Theatre, but was not successful, closing after 26 previews and 23 regular performances. She also contributed to the Off-Broadway musical Mama and Her Boys.
Personal life
Lucy Simon married David Y. Levine in 1967. They remained married for 55 years until her death. Together, they had two children: Julie and James. which came just one day after her sister Joanna died of thyroid cancer.
Awards and nominations
Drama Desk Awards
The Drama Desk Awards is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. The awards are considered a significant American theater distinction.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" align="center"| Drama Desk Awards
|-
! Year
! style="width:375px;" | Work
! style="width:175px;" | Award
! width="65" | Result
! width="20" | Ref
|-
| 1991
| The Secret Garden
| Outstanding Music
|
| align="center" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" align="center"| Grammy Awards
|-
! Year
! style="width:375px;" | Work
! style="width:175px;" | Award
! width="65" | Result
! width="20" | Ref
|-
| 1981
| In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record
| rowspan="2"| Best Album for Children
|
| align="center" rowspan="3"|
- 1969: The Simon Sisters Sing the Lobster Quadrille and Other Songs for Children
- 1977: Stolen Time
Singles
The Simon Sisters
- 1964: "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod"
Solo
<!-- * 1975: "Meet Lucy Simon" -->
- 1975: "Sally Go 'Round the Sun"
Other appearances
- 1980: "I Have a Song" by Lucy Simon – In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record
- 1981: "Maryanne" by Lucy & Carly Simon – In Harmony 2
- 1981: The Rodgers and Hart Album (Simon appears on two cuts of this William Bolcom and Joan Morris album)
References
External links
- Pop Music and the New Musical – Working in the Theatre Seminar video at American Theatre Wing.org, September 2005
- Biography at filmreference.com