A year in review is a beautiful reminder that the days are long, yet the years are short, however, the long days continue for Composer Randy Edelman as a springboard to set intentions for the coming year. The final days of 2023 closed for composer Edelman with an induction to The New England Music Hall of Fame, a New York and London Christmas show as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Get Out Magazine for his contributions to the music industry.
The sparks of 2024 were ignited with his Second Annual St. Patrick’s Day Massacre in New York City preluded by a single release of his romantic ballad entitled “Italian Star” which was accompanied by his own designer fragrance named the same. Shortly after was the launching of a LIVE 20 track album declaring the songs of the last 31/2 years which he performed in London, New York and Boston called “Around the World in 80 Minutes.” He would return to England several times during the year for sold out performances and to finalize several movie scores he was in the midst of writing, (Ate D’Jong’s Nashville saga “Heart Strings”, Josh Weber’s holiday themed family movie “Athena Saves Christmas) at Abbey Road Studios.
After a short trip to Nashville in support of wife Jackie DeShannon’s appearance at the CMA Theater in The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum for “Poets & Prophets”, Randy found himself back in New York City. It was there amidst the eloquent setting of the Metropolitan Club, the city’s most exclusive, private club, and a social and architectural landmark described by the New York Times as the “Marble Palace”, he was anointed with the honor of Songwriter’s Achievement Award by the prestigious “Career Bridges” organization to acknowledge and salute his distinguished, multiple and monumental contributions to the music industry. After accepting his award at the opera themed foundation’s 20th Anniversary, he performed for the Toni award winning Broadway recipients, music industry greats and society’s alumni.
By the end of May Randy found himself back in London in the heart of Piccadilly performing a repeat solo show at “The Crazy Coqs” an opulent and intimate art deco fantasy. The venue was packed with UK fans from an earlier era, and new admires from the punk era. Then onto Altrincham, a beautiful town right outside Manchester for yet another performance and again for those fans from another time….
September 22, 2024 was the 40th Anniversary of the United Nations proclaimed “International Peace Day.” It was celebrated on a stage at the cornerstone of the world, Times Square in front of the approximately 330,000 onlookers in a 5 hour concert called “Pause The World For Peace”, where Edelman opened the festivities. He performed his touching hope for Peace via “A Thanksgiving Prayer” from his album “On Time” released by Rocket Records in 1982, but holds more relevance now than ever. On the same day Edelman took a three hour journey to the exclusive Hamptons where he performed a flawless concert at the West Hampton Beach Performing Arts Center.
September also celebrated Edelman’s release of his brand new full length album “Waltzing On A High Wire” released on Tribeca Records. The 11 track album can be found on all digital platforms and also in vinyl CD format and a double vinyl album that can be purchased online and at Randy’s performances. The album contains echoes of the past and whispers of the future.
In October Randy revisited the UK. This time he performed at Shepherd Neame’s “The Old Brewery Store”, nestled in the medieval market town of Faversham in Kent, The Old Brewery store is Britain’s oldest brewery founded in 1698. While in London the Hollywood Composer suddenly found himself in the midst of a violent robbery and mugging, which took place right in front of his eyes. A woman was thrown to the ground while the assailant tried to grab her purse. When the perpetrator noticed Edelman, he turned abruptly and slammed into the composer who deflected the robbery with his own body thereby derailing the attempt of the assailant to finish the job. Police flooded to the scene as Edelman was the only witness to the crime, and became the hero of the Day telling the story to detectives. The woman was shaken but did not sustain serious injury, and was very thankful to the composer for literally stepping into the line of fire.
October 27/28 marked the 10th Anniversary of the most prestigious independent music awards held in Nashville TN, the Josie Music Awards. There Randy hosted their pre- party commemoration at the CMA Theater in The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. On Sunday during the Award Ceremonies Randy was honored with “The Legendary Songwriters Award” which was followed by a 12 minute performance to a sold out crowd of 4,372 at the iconic and historic Grand Old Opry House. The medley of film scores and his “Weekend In New England” (as recorded by Barry Manilow), earned him three Opry standing ovations.
The climax of this year happened on many different levels as a triple threat. On November 27, a beautiful article in Variety about the composer was published both in print and online. The feature talked about every facet of Edelman’s career including his new album.
Then on December 3, his soundtrack for The Beast Inside was released along with the highly anticipated exorcism-based horror film directed by Jim Towns and starring Sadie Katz, Vernon Wells (Mad Max, Commandos) and Laureen Landon (Airport, Maniac Cop). The soundtrack is dark, haunting and beautiful.
Then December 8, 2024 brought the composer back to New York City where he stood on 57th Street and Seventh Avenue ready to perform at the most prestigious venue on the planet Carnegie Hall. Below is a review borrowed from Rock NYC….
Rich in timeless beauty, Carnegie Hall is discreet, perfect in design and is internationally acclaimed as a superior setting for artists and audiences. As the congregation entered the footlights and claimed their seats, an enchanting collective of the music of Randy Edelman echoed serenely throughout the Hall before the concert even began. When the last piece was about to climax, the lights dimmed. The composer came from behind the stage and with a kind of radiant modesty, walked over to the Steinway and began to play along with the music, note for note and flawlessly timed. An impressive opening and something never done before.
From there Edelman sang “Everything Is Possible” which was re-released near the onset of the Hamas militant attack on Israel and is a song of hope for the under-dog. It was also re-mixed in a hip-hop version featuring a rap from Grand Master Melle Mel, but was originally a classic from Edelman’s album “Switch of the Seasons.” He continued with “Don’t Forsake Me Now”, “If Love is Real” (as recorded by Olivia Newton-John,), “The Farmer” and somewhere in between the songs he announced in almost a whisper that eventually he’d be talking….
By the time he relayed the visibly emotional story of how Karen Carpenter recorded his song “You” the audience trusted him. By the time he performed his iconic “A Weekend In New England”, covered by Barry Manilow, (which became the biggest hit on the planet), he became the concert-goer’s close friend. He continued the voyage of the soundscape of his career with originals including “Uptown, Uptempo Woman” a song that was celebrated in England but was never fully on the radar here in the US until now. There is an inwardness about him that separates him from the showboats who tend to become America’s stars, however, his songs exampling “Isn’t It A Shame” recorded by Patti LaBelle, Shirley Bassey, and hip-hop star Nelly have had and still have an obvious impact on the music industry. The fact that the last song Bing Crosby recorded was Edelman’s and entitled “The Woman On My Arm”, (a song we learned he wrote for his grandparents) along with the backstage stories he told intrigued the audience. During much of the show the crowd had a surprised expression as if to say “I didn’t know that was one of his songs.”
One of the weightiest elements of the concert was his performance of Robert Schumann’s “Intermezzo.” The German composer was widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann’s passions emerged in waves, not unlike that of Edelman.
He displayed his ability to bounce with little effort from genre to genre, from savory to sweet, with whimsical songs like Joe Raposo’s Sesame Street hit “Bein’ Green” to an unprecedented and unforgettable performance of Rogers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the Broadway show Carousel. His moving and topical statement “All Along the Rhine” served as a segue to his completely unique medley of his nonstop, 25 years and still continuing career as a film score composer.
Edelman played excerpts from his soundtracks beginning with the honor of Gettysburg, the epic Civil War battle written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell and produced by Ted Turner to British director Alan Parker’s internment camp themed “Come See Then Paradise.” He continued with Dragonheart and The Bruce Lee Story both directed by Rob Cohen (who flew in from Bali and occupied a seat in the crowd). He then performed Diabolique, and finally the mesmerizing Cora from “Last of the Mohicans” (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination) before he vamped into his melodic comedic strains of “My Cousin Vinny”, “The Mask”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Kindergarten Cop “, “Ghostbusters ll”, and “Billy Madison.” He ended the epic brew with the rousing theme from the hit television show MacGyver and then stood and proclaimed “25 Years.” With that the audience stood and howled with their appreciation.
Edelman closed the show with a beautiful instrumental of “Where or When” by Rodgers and Hart and then stood, said goodnight and left the stage to a standing ovation, which I’m not even sure he saw. The crowd remained standing hoping for an encore which never happened….but he really didn’t need to!
Randy took some of us on an unexpected and emotional nostalgic journey down memory lane conjuring up recollections they had all but forgotten. For others it was a new flame that ignited the transient sparks that searched for a crazy new way to dance for a whole new generation. It was an impeccable, brilliant and triumphant Carnegie Hall debut for Edelman. A similar performance will be spotlighted by the composer on June 6, 2025 at Lincoln Center which will be presented by Let Me Help, Inc..
Photo Credits: Billy Hess
