For all of us who enjoy the summer concerts of the Pasadena Pops, the news Tuesday of the death of Marvin Hamlisch, its music director and conductor, was stunning. Even though it was apparent at his first two concerts this season that Hamlisch was not in robust health, the suddenness of his passing was a shock.
Just two weeks ago Hamlisch conducted the Pops orchestra in a program that featured Michael Feinstein and the music of Cole Porter. At the beginning of the concert Hamlisch made a second entrance, bowing to the crowd of nearly 4,000 people.
Little did any of us know as we clapped and cheered for him that it was, in retrospect, our heart-felt farewell to him.
During his lifetime this brilliant man of music contributed much to America's songbook. He was a champion of making sure that the music of American composers such as George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and a host of others would live on. He was the winner of numerous awards including Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Tonys and a Pulitzer, and we will be enjoying his work for many years to come.