Valerie Landsburg Discusses On The Westside
So here is a very special clip. This is Cynthia and I doing a number to a song called On The Westside by my friend Robert Kraft. The story behind this song is a very interesting one. In the late 70’s I was a HUGE fan of The Manhattan Transfer. A great musical quartet, amazing singers. So I went to see them at Radio City Music Hall. I was so excited and the opening act was a band called Robert Kraft and the Ivory Coast. I thought they were great. When I heard “On the Westside” a thought came clear as bell through my mind (This happens periodically and seems to be my form of clairvoyance) - the thought? “I am going to sing that song one day”. I started going to hear Robert play in New York - we met a few times after the gigs.
So here is a very special clip. This is Cynthia and I doing a number to a song called On The Westside by my friend Robert Kraft. The story behind this song is a very interesting one. In the late 70’s I was a HUGE fan of The Manhattan Transfer. A great musical quartet, amazing singers. So I went to see them at Radio City Music Hall. I was so excited and the opening act was a band called Robert Kraft and the Ivory Coast. I thought they were great. When I heard “On the Westside” a thought came clear as bell through my mind (This happens periodically and seems to be my form of clairvoyance) - the thought? “I am going to sing that song one day”. I started going to hear Robert play in New York - we met a few times after the gigs.
Flash Forward. I get the part of Doris in the series FAME (Remember I had auditioned for the same part in the movie and didn’t get it) Now it’s almost 5 years later and we are in the 3rd season and I tell our producer Ken Ehrlich - who produces many awards show’s every year now.- that On the Westside would be a great song for a number. Ken is a great music guy and he agreed. I tracked down Robert in New York and put him in touch with Ken - Robert still credits me with his move to Los Angeles where he eventually became the head of music for 20th Century Fox. But the best part for me was that I got to sing the song that had grabbed my soul so many years before.
Flash Forward. I get the part of Doris in the series FAME (Remember I had auditioned for the same part in the movie and didn’t get it) Now it’s almost 5 years later and we are in the 3rd season and I tell our producer Ken Ehrlich - who produces many awards show’s every year now.- that On the Westside would be a great song for a number. Ken is a great music guy and he agreed. I tracked down Robert in New York and put him in touch with Ken - Robert still credits me with his move to Los Angeles where he eventually became the head of music for 20th Century Fox. But the best part for me was that I got to sing the song that had grabbed my soul so many years before.
So when you have these kinds of thoughts - don’t be surprised when they materialize.
So when you have these kinds of thoughts - don’t be surprised when they materialize.