He is a singer-songwriter and actor born in Newark,
New Jersey.He came from a musical family with
his grandfather being a cantor and his mother a singer.He first performed at Red's
Candy Store when he was still only about seven or eight years old.He gained support for his
aspirations to become a singer at the South Ward's Boys' Club
of Newark and it awarded him a scholarship for him to go through college
and take private studies in New
York.He made his first theatrical part in
the role of Ally in A Hole in The Head.When he was nine he entered a talent
contest and out of 500 entries he won the event and immediately went into
studies with the vaudevillian Charlie Lowe in Manhattan.He attended a school for
professional children and when he was twelve he was cast in Oliver and then personally chosen by
Richard Rodgers for The King and I.He attended Newark State College and
after he graduated he was given a role in the original production of Grease.During this time he met with the
members of the disbanded group, The Manhattan Transfer, who asked him to
become a fourth voice to complete the quartet and reform.He joined them in 1972 and
has been with them ever since, co-writing their Grammy Award
nomination his hits songs including "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone"
and "Code of Ethics".As a solo
artist he has released a solo album, performed on the soundtrack of The Marrying Man and appeared in
concert with the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra.In education he is a personal
development and performance coach through the
Coach
University masters program and
with the other members of The Manhattan Transfer was awarded an honorary
doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.
The Manhattan Transfer Recordings
Body and Soul
(Edward Heyman/Johnny Green/Robert Sour/Frank Eyton)
Twilight
Zone/Twilight Tone (Marius Constant/Jay Graydon/Alan
Paul)
