Todd: The last time I spoke with Marvin Hamlisch:

In 2008 would, sadly, be the last time I would ever speak with Marvin Hamlisch…at least in this life.  He was that rare mixture of genius and gentleman.  He had just finished a show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

So down-to-earth was he; on this concert circuit, he rented his own car and drove himself from venue to venue. Perhaps one of the best things I can say about his work, his legacy: Every year, I make mix tapes (actually, mix CDs) of the latest award nominated songs.  But when it comes to listening to them,  I keep returning to the ones with his music…songs from The Way We Were, The Spy Who Loved Me, Ice Castles, Shirley Valentine and The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Followers of Hamlisch – and Streisand – will want to know  about a recent photography book, Len Prince’s 400-plus pager, “Remembering Marvin Hamlisch – The People’s Composer.”  From the “Marvin Mosaic” on the front cover to a series of stunning images from Hamlisch’s memorial tributes (yes, plural), it honors the beloved EGOT (actually PEGOT when you factor in the Pulitzer) in the same classic and classy spirit that characterized Hamlisch’s life.

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It is a coffee table size celebration of his work, his colleagues, his family and his friends.  Find it at TwinnCrownsStudio.com and Amazon.com.

The book begins with Barbra Streisand’sJuilliard Memorial Concert for Marvin, September 18, 2012.  Prince’s stark black-and-white shots, including Barbra’s performance captured in wide angle, give the readers a you-are-there feel.

In communicating with Mr. Prince about his heartfelt experience documenting the memorial, he informed me, “It was a great honor to stand by to witness and photograph Marvin Hamlisch’s great friend Barbra Streisand sing for him at this very emotional time.”

VIDEO: Marvin Hamlisch — A Celebration of Life — Memorial at Juilliard:

He also conveyed the tireless efforts of Marvin’s wife, Terre Blair, to honor Marvin’s legacy:  “Her deep love for him was always present to open the memorials and tributes.  Terre’s trust in me and her vision was critical to this book.  I am forever grateful to her.”

The book also contains a copy of a beautiful, handwritten note from Barbra and an inscribed photograph she had given to her beloved friend and colleague. (Marvin Hamlisch Papers and awards are now at The Library Of Congress — Read more… )

In a portion devoted to Marvin’s film scores, we see iconic freeze frames from the movies. First up is The Way We Were and Barbra’s gloved hand brushing Robert Redford’s blonde locks aside.  For ambience, LenPrince offers close-up stills of theater seats, the spines from Hamlisch’s hardbound Broadway scores, solitary spotlights and other moments that bring us into that wondrous world…a world that was better because Marvin was in it.

VIDEO: The Inspiring Music of Marvin Hamlisch:

Source: Todd Sussman.

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