Jun 6, 2022
As I was thinking about my
upcoming conversation with David Loud, author of "Facing the
Music", a quote from piano man, Billy Joel, struck a chord
with me. Joel said “I think music
in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity.
It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're
from, everyone loves music.
It seemed to me that
the healing power of David Loud’s
lifelong passion for music helped him to triumph over the ravages of Parkinson’s disease that
could have destroyed his career as a Broadway music director,
arranger and actor.
I seldom have time to read memoirs or
biographies. Reading is one of
the two main ways I have to temporarily disconnect from the chaos around me, and I preferentially
read fiction with powerfully drawn characters, and fast moving
storylines. But I was captivated
by David Loud’s memoir which I read straight through, on a rainy
Vancouver weekend. As a long-time devotee of the performing arts
and an on-line theatre reviewer, I loved the chance to vicariously
experience the backstage activity that audience members rarely see.
And as I reflected ironically, my book, Growing Older Living
Younger, the account of my recovery from spinal stenosis and back
surgery, is as much memoir as it is science.
David Loud (NYC) occupies a unique place in
Broadway history. In addition to his distinguished career as one of
Broadway’s most respected music directors and arrangers, he
originated three Broadway roles as an actor, including his
appearance in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary
failure (and cult classic) Merrily We Roll Along, directed by
Harold Prince. In a career spanning several decades, he served as
music director for the original Broadway productions of Ragtime,
Curtains, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Visit, The Scottsboro Boys, A
Class Act, The Look of Love, and Steel Pier, as well as revivals of
She Loves Me, Company, and Sweeney Todd. He also appeared alongside
Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Terrence McNally’s Tony-winning
play, Master Class.
The link to "Facing the Music" is below https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Music-Broadway-David-Loud-ebook/dp/B09BNZNV79
To learn more about Growing Older Living Younger: Schedule a Living Younger Discovery call with me at https://calendly.com/askdrgill/discovery-phone-chat
Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably at https://www.gillianlockitch.com/