DESCRIPTION:
If you like this song or my singing, please join the new announcement mailing list. Just go here, enter your email, and click subscribe. You'll get an email asking for confirmation. You can unsubscribe at any time!

https://groups.google.com/a/bengpianovocals.us/forum/?hl=en-US#!forum/ben-g-piano-vocals-announcements-list/join

Just enter your email, complete the captcha, and click subscribe!

Once you join the Google Group you can access a private subreddit page where you can make and rate others' requests!
The list is the best and fastest way to hear updates concerning new projects, with the best opportunities to give feedback and make requests for songs/pieces you'd like to hear! I hope to have new recordings in the near future and I'd be eager to hear your suggestions for good piano/vocal songs that I could arrange and record.

Your email addresses are safe and hidden!


From West Side Story

Another old summer recording, back when I had time for a bit of fun :)

If you're interested in singing or playing along with backing or karaoke tracks, I suggest looking at iTunes or another online music store. AngelsBwayKaraokes and other Youtube channels may give you an idea of what's available.

From Wikipedia:
"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956.
"Maria" is sung by the male lead Tony when he learns the name of the girl he's fallen in love with is "Maria". The name "Maria" is spoken or sung in the song 27 times. It begins in B major and then modulates to E-flat major.

The song is widely known for its use of the melodic interval of a tritone.
Alfie Boe
José Carreras
George Chakiris
Perry Como
Michael Crawford (in a medley of "West Side Story" songs)
Vic Damone
Plácido Domingo
Sergio Franchi in his 1964 RCA Victor Red Red Seal Album Women in My Life[1]
Marvin Gaye
Karel Gott
Josh Groban
David Habbin
Jay and the Americans
Stan Kenton
Larry Kert
Johnny Mathis
Matt Monro
Gene Pitney
P. J. Proby
Buddy Rich
Peter Tevis
Sarah Vaughan
Matt Cavenaugh

Johnny Mathis
Marian McPartland
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Stan Kenton
Leon Bibb
Peter Nero
Jimmy Bryant
Andy Williams
Roger Williams
Perry Como
Cliff Richard
P.J. Proby
The Sunjet Serenaders Steelband
Malcolm Roberts
Melvis and His Gentlemen
Vince Hill with The Eddie Lester Singers
Four Tops
Udo Jürgens
Pino Calvi
Lettermen
Richard Clayderman
Schlong With Andrew Asp
Michael McDonald, James Ingram & David Pack
Mads Belden
Richard Sanderson
Paul Potts
Karine Deshayes
Nicole Croisille



West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The musical is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.
Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks from Puerto Rico are taunted by the Jets, a white working-class group.[1] The young protagonist, Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America", "Somewhere", "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "A Boy Like That", "One Hand, One Heart", "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool".
The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and produced by Robert E. Griffith and Harold Prince, marked Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut. It ran for 732 performances (a successful run for the time), before going on tour. The production received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical in 1957, but the award went to Meredith Willson's The Music Man. It won a Tony Award in 1957 for Robbins' choreography. The show had an even longer-running London production, a number of revivals and international productions. The production spawned an innovative, award-winning 1961 musical film of the same name, directed by Robert Wise and Robbins, starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn and David Winters. It won ten Academy Awards out of eleven nominations. The stage musical is produced frequently by schools, regional theatres, and occasionally by opera companies.

Music Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics Stephen Sondheim
Book Arthur Laurents
Basis Romeo and Juliet
Productions 1957 Broadway
1958 West End
1959 U.S. tour
1960 Broadway return
1961 Film
1980 Broadway revival
1997 UK tour and West End revival
2008 West End revival and UK tour
2009 Broadway revival and US tour
International productions