Marvin Hamlisch quotes

Marvin Hamlisch was an American composer and conductor, celebrated for his work in film, theater, and popular music. His achievements include winning numerous major awards such as Oscars, Grammys, and a Tony. He is remembered as one of the few artists to achieve the coveted EGOT status and for his enduring musical legacy. Here are 22 of his quotes:

I have always thought of music as a highway with many lanes. (Marvin Hamlisch)
Barbra Streisand is without a doubt one of the most honest people I have ever known. There is no doubt in my mind that she will not be doing any more concerts. Of course, she still will be making records and starring and directing in movies. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
Maybe I'm old-fashioned. But I remember the beauty and thrill of being moved by Broadway musicals - particularly the endings of shows. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I still have great faith in what is good and right in all of us. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
You mustn't underestimate an audience's intelligence. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
My whole thing is not just to play music for people, but to make them part of the evening. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I can make a song up about anything: garbage, the weather, things in the news. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I never took any vocal training. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I think that when NASA works on a moon shot, they know too well that all of the people working on it must do their job at 110 percent. Sometimes they probably put in 18 hour days, but they're aiming for the moon, and that's what counts. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
There have been studies that clearly state that children who are exposed to arts education at a young age will in fact do markedly better in their SAT tests. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and funny and high nervous energy can work against me as a serious composer, slowly but surely you'll see me be quieter just so that people will listen. (Marvin Hamlisch)
If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.' View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
From the time I could play the piano, I remember trying to write tunes. They were in my head, and I would just sit down and start noodling. Next thing I knew, I had written a melody. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
You know, anyone who invites me to do something makes me feel special. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I was always drawn to Broadway musicals, and obviously composers like Gershwin, Rodgers, Berlin and Porter were writing music that I found wildly impressive. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
The biggest thrill you can have is to tell people one of your songs, and have them be able to hum it. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I'm not one of those people who says, 'I never read reviews,' because I don't believe those people. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. When her teacher left our apartment, I would get up on the piano bench and start picking out the notes that were part of my sister's lessons. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
My show business career doesn't mean I can't write a symphony. It just means I was never asked to write one. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
Many, many years ago, I was one of the few conductors who talked to the audience and now a lot of classical conductors have figured it out... otherwise, you just get the back of someone's head playing music you could hear on a CD. It's not enough anymore. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch
Normally I can balance two or three things. The problem is when you're out of work and don't have anything to balance. I think people assume you're always busy. You go through dry spells. (Marvin Hamlisch)
Let's say music is needed for only 43 seconds of film. You have to score it so it is an entity, so it won't bother anyone when it ends so quickly. Or if a song runs 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the titles run a minute longer, you have to arrange that song so it doesn't get repetitious. View quote
Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin Hamlisch - Image
Photo: Shel Secunda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Occupation: American Composer
Born: June 2, 1944
Died: August 6, 2012
Quotes count: 22