055 David Loud: Facing the Music

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/