THE WIZ @ 40: A Musical Profile of THE WIZ's Composer/Lyricist Charlie Smalls
By: Michael Dale Oct. 21, 2015
Happy Birthday to THE WIZ! Everyone knows that the musical is soon to be seen as the live, star-studded, event of the season when THE WIZ LIVE! comes to NBC on Thursday, Dec 3rd at 8/7c. Today though, we're taking a look back at the musical's creation as the show celebrates its 40th Birthday.
Queens-born Charlie Smalls may not have ever imagined himself as the composer and lyricist of a beloved Broadway classic before 1970, when producer Ken Harper offered him the chance to write the score for THE WIZ.
But then, two years earlier, he probably never imagined himself as a guest star teaching Davy Jones about soul music on THE MONKEES.
A prodigy who began studies at Julliard at age 11, Charlie Smalls became a respected pianist and composer, touring with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, Harry Belafonte and South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, who recorded his "From Me To You" in 1966.
1968 would be his breakout year. After his appearance on THE MONKEES, he wrote, arranged and sang lead vocals on "Keep on Groovin'," where you can hear the sound that would soon make its way to the Majestic Theatre stage.
Later that year he wrote and recorded "Never Felt Like This Before" for the soundtrack of the John Cassavetes film, FACES.
The big musical hits in town when he began work on THE WIZ were HELLO, DOLLY! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. And while HAIR brought more contemporary rock music to Broadway, the kind of funk and soul Smalls created was nowhere to be found in a Times Square theatre. But Broadway began changing in the early 70s, and black urban musicals like AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH and RAISIN started drawing more diverse audiences. THE WIZ won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Musical and Smalls was awarded the prize for Best Score.
Sadly, Smalls died young at age 43, while being operated on for a burst appendix. He had begun work for his second musical, based on H.G. Wells' THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES. But his score for THE WIZ continues to delight audiences and inspire young artists, like this 7-year-old named Beyoncé Knowles.
"The Wiz Live!" is adapted from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre, starring Mills. It won seven Tonys, including best musical.
Mark your calendars! We are so excited about the live, star-studded, musical event of the season, THE WIZ LIVE! coming to NBC Thursday, Dec 3rd at 8/7c. Don't miss Queen Latifah as the 'The Wiz,' Mary J. Blige as 'Evillene,' David Alan Grier as 'The Lion,' Uzo Aduba as 'Glinda,' Amber Riley as 'Addaperle,' Common as 'The Bouncer,' Ne-Yo as 'Tin Man,' Elijah Kelley as 'Scarecrow' - with the introduction of Shanice Williams as 'Dorothy.' Plus, Stephanie Mills, the beloved 'Dorothy' from the original Tony Award®-winning Broadway production, joins this amazing cast as 'Aunt Em.' With Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive producing, Tony®-winner Kenny Leon and Emmy®-winner Matthew Diamond directing, Tony®-winner Harvey Fierstein delivering fresh writing, and the incomparable Fatima Robinson choreographing, the yellow brick road has never promised to be so bright. And, with the musical talents of Grammy®-winning music producer Harvey Mason Jr. and Tony-Award winner Stephen Oremus (music co-producer, music director and orchestrator) taking the sound of the Emerald City to all-new, sing-along heights, this is sure to be an enthralling journey to OZ like never before.
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