Joan Collins and Andrew Lloyd Webber have led the tributes to multi-award-winning songwriter Leslie Bricusse following his death at the age of 90.
The actress who was previously married to Bricusse’s most famous writing partner, Anthony Newley, posted a photograph of herself with her long-time friend on Instagram accompanied by the words: “One of the giant songwriters of our time, writer of ‘Candyman’, ‘Goldfinger’ amongst so many other hits, and my great friend Leslie Bricusse has sadly died today. He and his beautiful Evie have been in my life for over 50 years. I will miss him terribly, as will his many friends.”
Lloyd Webber, who co-wrote ‘The Perfect Song’ for Michael Ball which was reportedly inspired by a bet from Michael Caine, posted on Twitter: “Farewell dearest Leslie, you’ve written more popular standards than anyone I know. Your songs have infiltrated every corner of the planet. Your talent is matched by your loyal friendship, always filled with laughter. Madeleine & I will miss you terribly & send huge love to Evie.”
Widely regarded as one of the titans of modern songwriting, who along with Newley famously gave a musical voice to Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas, with the songs for the much-loved 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Bricusse first found fame alongside Newley with the musical Stop The World – I Want To Get Off which premiered in the West End in 1961.
The musical featured the haunting ballad ‘What Kind Of Fool Am I’ which went on to win the 1961 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Song – the first time the prestigious Grammy had been awarded to British writers.
Leslie Bricusse (right) and co-writer Anthony Newley
In 1965 the partnership’s second stage musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, introduced the world to modern standards ‘On A Wonderful Day Like Today’, ‘Who Can I Turn To’, ‘The Joker’ and the much-covered ‘Feelin’ Good’.
Bricusse’s stage musicals also included Pickwick (with composer Cyril Ornadel), Sherlock Holmes: The Musical, Jekyll & Hyde (with Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden), Scrooge, Victor/Victoria (with Blake Edwards and Henry Mancini), Dr Dolittle (also Lionel Newman, Alexander Courage) and Sammy, Bricusse’s musical celebration of the life of his friend, the legendary Sammy Davis Jr.
Nominated for his first Academy Award for his work with Newley on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the London-born writer moved easily between stage and screen creating a catalogue of timeless music with hits including Bond themes ‘Goldfinger’ (with Newley) and ‘You Only Live Twice’ (with John Barry) through to ‘Can You Read My Mind’, the love theme from the 1978 film Superman (written with John Williams).
In the theatre, Bricusse was nominated for five Tony Awards and won two – Best New Musical in 1963 for Stop The World – I Want To Get Off (with Newley) and the 1997 Best Book of a Musical Tony for Jekyll & Hyde.
Bricusse was nominated for eight Oscars, winning two – the first for the song ‘Talk to the Animals’ from the 1967 film Dr Dolittle which starred Rex Harrison and also featured Newley, and the second for Best Adaptation and Original Song Score for Victor/Victoria in 1983 (co-written with Henry Mancini).
Bricusse is survived by his former actress wife of more than 60 years, Yvonne Romain (known as Evie) and artist son, Adam.
Angela Thomas
Readers may also be interested in:
Triple threat writer Leslie Bricusse on what inspires his Pure Imagination. Interview – Part One
The Roar of the Greasepaint – Leslie Bricusse. Interview – Part Two
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