I can't remember when I first heard the voice of Steve Lawrence - or, for that matter, which voice of Steve Lawrence I first heard. Maybe it was as a child, spinning my mom's old Columbia 45 of "Go Away, Little Girl," the 1962 smash written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and sung by a smitten young man, his voice sweetly tender. Perhaps it was a few years later as I discovered the original cast recording of Golden Rainbow, a quintessentially brassy, swingin' '60s musical in which Steve (a few years older, too) introduced "I've Gotta Be Me." Though many others sang Walter Marks' anthem - and some even sang it well! - nobody sang it like Steve: confident yet vulnerable, powerful yet relatable, edgy yet smooth. Or maybe I first heard Steve on one of his countless television appearances, likely with his wife and performing partner of more than half a century, the late, great Eydie Gorme. On TV, Steve was cool, funny, quick-witted, and...did I mention cool? He exuded swagger but also warmth; when he began to sing, he could melt butter. The man epitomized class. There was no kind of song Steve Lawrence couldn't sing. Put simply, he made the words and melodies his own by singing them straight, with abundant heart.
Steve Lawrence passed away on Thursday at the age of 88 after a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer's. He leaves behind a rich and varied discography of more than 25 solo albums, nearly that many with his wife Eydie, two original Broadway cast albums, and over 20 Hot 100 hits including the chart-topping "Go Away, Little Girl," and top ten entries "Party Doll," "Footsteps," and "Portrait of My Love." Steve began his recording career on the King label in 1952, and by 1954, he had joined Eydie at Coral Records for duets as well as solo recordings. Steve and Eydie migrated to ABC-Paramount before the fifties were out, and the pair inaugurated a lengthy, lifelong association with the label's A&R head, arranger-conductor Don Costa.
When Costa decamped at the beginning of the new decade for United Artists Records, Steve and Eydie made the move too. Steve found great success with acclaimed concept albums celebrating what would later become known as The Great American Songbook (All About Love, Swing Softly with Me, Songs Everyone Knows, Lawrence Goes Latin), and their first full album together, 1960's jubilant We Got Us, earned husband and wife a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. Concurrent with their more adult-oriented LP offerings, Steve and Eydie immersed themselves in teen-themed pop to great success which continued when they moved to Columbia Records. "Go Away, Little Girl" was introduced early in 1962 by Bobby Vee, but it was Steve's captivating rendition that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1963. A true crossover success, it also hit No. 1 AC and went to the top 20 on the R&B chart.
STEVE & EYDIE ON 'KRAFT MUSIC HALL'
Departing Columbia near the tail end of the 1960s, Steve and Eydie - so closely linked that Steve once commented, "We were attached at the hip, Steve-and-Eydie; it was like we were one person, to be married that long" - continued to record gem after gem. At RCA, Steve notched major AC hits such as "I've Gotta Be Me" and his ebullient yet wistful rendition of Paul Williams and Roger Nichols' "The Drifter" - sunshine pop at its most moving. Moving to MGM, he teamed with Nelson Riddle for the masterful Portrait of Steve in 1972, bringing conviction to material ranging from George and Ira Gershwin to John and Yoko. Decades later, in 2003, his voice hadn't diminished one bit when he recorded Steve Lawrence Sings Sinatra, a sublime tribute to his friend Frank which featured the orchestrations the Chairman had bestowed upon Steve. Most artists would have invited unfavorable comparisons to Sinatra singing his own charts...but not Steve Lawrence. His final album came in 2014 with When You Come Back to Me Again, a touching tribute to Eydie (who had passed away in 2013).
As they performed well into the new millennium, Steve and Eydie seemingly embodied an era of showbiz gone by. Yet they weathered the changing tides of music by always remaining true to themselves - and to the songs. Steve had championed The Great American Songbook since his earliest days in the recording studio, and he and Eydie kept it close to their hearts, winning Emmy Awards for their television salutes to George Gershwin and Irving Berlin, touring with Sinatra on his 1990-1991 Diamond Jubilee tour, and appearing on his Duets II album. They never lost the willingness to try something new. As Steve remembered to Larry King in 2003, "Disney came to us. They were doing a Lounge-a-palooza type of album and they asked us to do a song that was made popular by Soundgarden...and I said, 'Are you talking about us, Steve and Eydie?' They said, 'We want you to do it in your own way.'" Eydie interjected, "Like a Don Costa arrangement." Steve continued, "We did it: 'Black Hole Sun.'" Their silken ballad version of the 1994 Mainstream Rock chart-topper became a highlight of the 1997 Lounge-a-palooza album.
Steve carved out a parallel career as an actor, deploying his comic skills to gifted effect on The Carol Burnett Show, The Nanny, Two and a Half Men, and The Tonight Show on the small screen and The Blues Brothers on the big screen. "5,000 bucks," his Blues Brothers character Maury Sline asked, incredulously. "Who do you think you are, The Beatles?!?" Steve Lawrence wasn't a Beatle, but as one half of "Steve-and-Eydie," he entertained audiences the world over for a career spanning nearly 70 years.
I never had the opportunity to meet Steve Lawrence, though I'll always cherish my memories of seeing him and Eydie in concert over the years doing what they did best. It's a privilege and a thrill for this kid who grew up on Steve and Eydie to have written liner notes for a number of releases overseen by their beloved son David to celebrate their extraordinary legacy. When they shared the stage together, love was palpable both onstage and in the audience. That same love is every bit as powerful today when their music plays. Though Steve is much missed here on Earth, I've no doubt that he and Eydie are back together and filling the heavens with beautiful music - and will, forever and ever.
Ten Solo Hidden Gems from Steve Lawrence:
"Bewitched" (Jack Keller/Howard Greenfield)
"The Drifter" (Roger Nichols/Paul Williams)
"I Want to Be with You" (Charles Strouse/Lee Adams)
"I Was a Fool to Let You Go" (Barry Manilow/Marty Panzer)
"I Won't Break" (Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager/Peter Allen)
"I'm Making the Same Mistakes Again" (Helen Miller/Roger Atkins)
"Life's a Gamble" (Walter Marks)
"Oh, My Love" (John Lennon/Yoko Ono)
"Pickin' Up the Pieces" (Paul Anka/Sammy Cahn/Bobby Gosh)
"That's All" (Alan Brandt/Bob Haymes)
The Weekend Stream: March 2, 2024
Release Round-Up: Week of March 1
We Can Make It Together: Real Gone's March Line-Up Includes Steve and Eydie, Hardline, Spineshank, The Donnas, and Fanny
UPDATE: Something Big: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme Celebrated on Upcoming Public Television Special, "Ultimate Collection" CD Box Set and More
Steve was probably the last remaining entertainer from that era of superstars that could act and sing. Amazing vocalist with great comedic timing. An Emmy winner, a Grammy winner, one hell of a live performer, he will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Mr. Lawrence.
Well said!
Such a nice tribute Joe. I did meet them once and they were lovely. RIP Steve.
I received the new Steve and Eydie greatest hits from Real Gone last week but did not get around to playing it until yesterday afternoon. Moments after my first listen, I heard that Steve had died.
I wasn't a Steve and Eydie fan when I was a teen, but really grew to appreciate them over the years.
I am eager to see what Real Gone has planned for the upcoming reissues.
Steve will be missed.
I was in army Stuttgart Germany. I was wondering if it's the same Joe Marchese that was a Machineist at 29th fixed wing
Sorry, Grover, different Joe here. Thank you for your service!
I did not realize that Steve was still with us until your post. As a kid, I'd seen them on television shows but did not have an appreciation for them. About 10 or 15 years ago, I picked up an Eydie Gorme Record and then something by Steve. Realized what I had been missing. Great as a duo, great as separate artists. That guy has the easiest delivery and I think that's why I like him so much. I think they are both underappreciated.
Great tribute Joe. I grew up with that 1972 album 'Portrait of Steve' with the superb Nelson Riddle. That's when I realized not many would be able to match his voice.
Hopefully Real Gone will also choose this album for their future Steve & Eydie reissue programme, and will try to include the first track of the album as well (Medley: Ain't No Sunshine - You Are My Sunshine).
GL Music unfortunately wasn't able to clear the rights for this track on their 2001 CD reissue.
A great tribute to a great performer.
I grew up watching Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme on various variety shows, and on the Tonight Show.
His death seems to signify the end of the "crooner" generation.
This is a beautiful tribute. I have loved Steve & Eydie since I saw them (twice!) in Golden Rainbow at age 12, and my love was reinvigorated when I saw the PBS special in December. As a kid, I could only afford a few of their albums, but now as an adult I can listen to many more (though not all - why doesn’t Spotify have the Sinatra one?) through streaming. (And I bought the new CD from Real Gone, too!) I also can appreciate the majesty and breadth of their musical talents - they really were quite brilliant. I appreciate their son David’s efforts to keep their music and their legacy alive. They are treasures, and I hope that they continue to be appreciated as such for a very long time.
I went JHS109 and Thomas Jefferson H S ,with Steve . He was Two years older then me ..I remember him from the school plays.AsA kid I a knew he was going to be a star! He left High school early and quickly became a star! I did have a chance to meet him latter on,talked about two boys from Brooklyn Great guy -G-d rest his soul .
I sold steve and Edie cadillac in Las Vegas
Had great times with them
I have a photo of them signed 88 crossed off because he liked leases with no cents. I will greatly miss him.
When I was a teen I bought every Steve Lawrence single that came out. My personal favorite was "You're Nearer". I'm now 77 years old and never stopped listening to him. What a handsome, funny and talented singer he was. RIP Mr. Lawrence.
I am 55 years old and all of My life I have loved Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gourmet, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett,Andy Williams,Perry Como, Barbara Streisand ECT: and there are only two of the old generation left Johnny Mathis and I'm pretty Sure Jack Jones is still alive! These singers defined American Greatness! An ere where you dressed for dinner or when flying on a plane, valet parking and white tablecloth dinning! I am So fortunate I grew up when I did and unlike My generation I embraced Elegance rather than rebelled against it! When one of these singing legends passes away, we ALL lose something, DIGNITY! Thank you for Sharing your immense talent with us Steve, Your with Eydie now!
Ditto to all commentators above....my favorite song of Bro Steve was "Pretty Blue Eyes." Recently watched PBS
TV special w/TJL= excellent program of Steve & Eddie's accomplishments in music & their shared love for each
other a highlight.... thanks Bro Joe for tribute.
My husband went to high school with steve Lawerence Thomas Jefferson high in Brooklyn he was the greatest singer back then also with the school band , he loved frank sinatra. Then too !! Joseph. Zagaria
I think it was around 1968.. I had graduated from high school and after a brief Vietnam draft.. fell into construction work which I've now done every day for about 60 years. We had a wonderful neighborhood pool hall Mals.. in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh and it had a great jukebox. I remember how I and others would love to play Steve Lawrence's "portrait of my love" and we"d all belt it out together ! Steve and Edie, thank you for many wonderful memores we all were so fortunate to grow up during the 50s and 60s .. memories for forever -
I loved everything about Steve and Eydie. I saw them in concert in Escondido when I was living in San Diego. I had great seats and was worth every cent.
Agree with everyone. He and Edie had great voices. The music of today doesn't compare. God bless them.
I have a lot of Steve Lawrence songs on acetate test pressings and I think some of them were never released. I put a few of them on Ebay...they are pretty cool.