“I Gotta Make My Own Music”: The Songs of Arthur Siegel

Tweet this article !

“I Gotta Make My Own Music”: The Songs of Arthur Siegel (1923-1994)

Two hundred and twelve lucky people enjoyed a free concert of the songs of Arthur Siegel, in the Bruno Walter Auditorium, at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, on Thursday, June 14, 2007. A large number of unlucky people were turned away, because that intimate house couldn’t accommodate more. Those of us, who were seated, felt very privileged.

The evening was produced by Alan Pally, with the assistance of Berthe Schucat, who donated the Arthur Siegel Archives to the Library’s Music Division.

Called “I Gotta Make My Own Music,” which is the title of one of Arthur’s most charming songs, and one for which he wrote both the music and the lyric, the show was performed by singers Caroline Durham, Helen Klass (both accompanied by Ronny Whyte) and Frank Torren (accompanied by Rick Unterberg); singer/pianists Chris Barrett and Ronny Whyte; and pianist Lee Musiker. Each of them performed three solo numbers. And the entire company closed the evening with “I Gotta Make My Own Music.”

Ronny Whyte was a triple threat. He emceed the proceedings, accompanied Helen and Caroline and sang his three numbers in English and in French, as they were done in the original shows: “Tell Her” and “Don’t Wait ‘til it’s Too Late to See Paris,” both from New Faces of 1956, and “Love Is A Simple Thing,” from New Faces of 1952, all with lyrics by June Carroll.

Other highlights were Chris Barrett’s take on the opening number, “Where Is the Melody,” in which Arthur amusingly deplored the tuneless numbers many of his contemporaries were writing, by saying “I Can’t Whistle the Words.” Helen Klass was Miss Bankhead with “Stay Awhile,” from Tallulah (lyric by Mae Richard).Helen, as herself, sang “Penny Candy,” one of Arthur and June Carroll’s most popular songs, which was a smash in the ’52 New Faces. Frank Torren ran the gamut of emotions in lyricist Ruth Batchelor’s strong “A Song for All Seasons,” driven by Rick Unterberg’s accompaniment. Caroline Durham wisely made “Monotonous” her own, rather than imitating Eartha Kitt, whose song it was in New Faces of 1952, and showed versatility with “This is A Man I Could Love,” and one of Arthur’s loveliest melodies, “Open Your Eyes and Dream,” from the TV musical, “Miracle on 34^th Street.” Lee Musiker arranged three of Arthur’s ballads for solo piano, and took our breath away playing them so brilliantly, we didn’t need any words.

Arthur Siegel wrote hundreds of songs. In this evening, we were teased with just nineteen of them. We could have stayed all night and heard them all. We can be grateful that the songs are now preserved at the Library, so that singers can access them, sing them in their cabaret acts and record them. Let’s keep these treasures alive.

As you read in Arthur’s bio, He performed in my club, Jan Wallman’s. I’ll always be very proud of that, and happy with the memories of many wonderful nights of music.