Pianist Richard Glazier Revives Great Songs from Stage & Screen
And shares of meeting a hero, Ira Gershwin, as a boy
First it was COVID, then a chronic non-life-threatening illness kept Richard Glazier from performing. This year, he returns to the stage, where audiences can again experience the pianist seamlessly blending recitals with fascinating personal stories describing friendships with legendary figures in American popular song such as Ira Gershwin.
I first encountered the master musician and music storyteller in 2011 during a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Wandering the decks late one Friday night, I was drawn by the sound of piano music to a lounge where Glazier was in full swing.
Although he didn’t finish until 1 a.m., Richard hung around talking to passengers and posing for photographs. Since that evening, Glazier has released several CDs and his three public television specials have been broadcast on PBS affiliates across the country.
His most recent CD was “Pure Imagination – Great Songs from the Stage & Screen.” As the title suggests, the recording contains 16 tracks from classics such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “West Side Story,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis” (see www.richardglazier.com).
Glazier’s journey to the concert stage as a performer and historian of popular Broadway and Hollywood music goes back over four decades, when then 9-year-old Richard started digging through his aunt’s collection of old 78-records in her Indianapolis home.
“I found an Oscar Levant recording of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and became obsessed with the music,” recalled Glazier. “That led me to the library where I learned about the composer, George Gershwin, and his brother, Ira.”
Glazier was hooked after discovering the 1943 musical film “Girl Crazy” that featured Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney singing Gershwin songs, and he began piano lessons.
The composer George Gershwin had died in 1937, but when young Richard learned that lyricist Ira was still living, he wrote to the aging songwriter asking for a photo. That led to a three-year correspondence between the music legend and his young fan.
“I was a small child who loved Gershwin music, so I think Ira wanted to encourage my passion for their music and my goal of being a pianist,” said Glazier who, to his astonishment, was invited to Gershwin’s California home to meet his hero.
Accompanied by his mother, Glazier remembers the butler leading them into the living room where Ira sat waiting. “He was very reclusive during his later years and hardly ever had company, but I would never have known, since he was very warm and animated.”
During the two-hour visit, Ira showed Richard the Pulitzer Prize for Drama he won in 1932 for writing “Of Thee I Sing.” He invited the boy to play a piano in the room – the same instrument on which the Gershwins composed their music such as “Porgy and Bess.”
When he departed, the lad didn’t leave empty-handed.
“He gave me a picture of George, along with one of his cancelled checks, an autographed photo of himself, and an autographed score of ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’” said Glazier, whose mother also took a photo of her son with Gershwin.
Despite his absence from the concert circuit for four years, Richard says he’s playing better than ever and shared some emails from audience members who attended a recent concert in Phoenix:
“Loved every minute … your story of the joy a little boy had to meet his idol and play on his piano brought joy to my heart.” – Shirley Rosenblum
“You played with your heart fully engaged … the evening was extraordinary.” – Janice M. Hollowelli
“I couldn’t practice for almost 2 years,” said Glazier. “But I came out of this difficult time seeing life and music more emotionally and deeper, and that’s reflected in my playing, which is better than ever. A real triumph for me. I’m definitely back!”
FEATURE PHOTO IMAGE, TOP: Richard Glazier at the piano. Photo provided by Richard Glazier. Credit: Matias Antonio Bombal
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers, including many in the Boomer nostalgia and humor departments. See www.getnickt.org
