Glam Rocker Brett Smiley, Original Star of Broadway's OLIVER!, Dies at 60

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Brett Smiley, cult glam rocker and part of the original company of Broadway's OLIVER in 1965, died last Friday, January 8. He was 60. The news comes on the heels of music icon David Bowie's passing this weekend.

After his childhood appearance as a workhouse boy and 'Oliver' understudy in the Lionel Bart musical on the Great White Way, Smiley went on to pursue a career in music.

He recorded his first and only album -- titled BREATHLESSLY BRETT -- in 1974, produced by British rock impresario Andrew Loog Oldham (the man who discovered the Rolling Stones). The album was abandoned before being released much later in 2003. He did, however, release two singles, "Va Va Va Voom" and "Space Ace", in the '70s.

In 1977, Smiley starred as the 'Prince' opposite Cheryl Smith in Michael Pataki's musical comedy film CINDERELLA.

In 2004, rock biographer Nina Antonia published a book about Smiley titled THE PRETTIEST STAR: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BRETT SMILEY.

Before his death, Smiley performed with several small bands in New York.