For anyone who's interested in this underrated British composer, BBC Radio2 is broadcasting a 3-part documentary on Lionel Bart titled "A Handful of Songs - The Lionel Bart Story" The first part was broadcast on Friday (the next 2 parts will be broadcast on the 2 following Fridays) and can be listened to on the BBC Radio2 website for the next 5 days at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/doc ... bart.shtml
"This three-part documentary is jointly presented by Barbara Windsor (who was in many of Lionel Bart's early musicals) and Matt Lucas - a huge Lionel Bart fan! It tells the story of Lionel's life, his rise to fame, Oliver, making and losing millions and then fighting his twenty year battle with drugs and alcohol.
Almost everybody knows a Lionel Bart song, but is unlikely that they know about the man behind the music. He could never read or write music but was credited with helping to revive the English musical and was instrumental in the development of 'rock and roll' and pop music in the UK, penning songs like 'Livin' Doll' for Cliff Richard and 'Rock With The Cavemen' for Tommy Steele.
Lionel Bart was one of the UK's most successful composers. His work has permeated society, but few people know that his life was as dramatic as any of his musical works. His rise to fame was meteoric, winning three Ivor Novello awards in 1957, four in 1958 and two in 1960 as well as show business personality of the year. He is most famed for his musical Oliver which changed the musical theatre world and went on to win six Oscars for the 1967 film version directed by Sir Carol Reed. Lionel was the centre of the entertainment world, holidaying with royalty and socialising with The Beatles and The Stones.
The Lionel Bart Story will feature contributions from Cliff Richard, Cameron Mackintosh, Justin Hayward, Don Black, Richard O Brien, Herbert Kretzmer, Ronnie Corbett and Ron Moody amongst many others."
Lionel Bart
Moderator: mark