Four time Grammy nominee, singer/pianist Michael Feinstein and his partner of 11 years, Terrence Flannery, are to be married today, October 17th, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.
The wedding ceremony, which is to be officiated by close friend Judge Judy Scheindlin, will take place on the couple’s estate in Los Angeles. Feinstein and Flannery will celebrate their nuptials with 115 of their close friends, including
Warren Beatty,
Annette Bening,
David Hyde Pierce,
Doris Roberts,
Joan Collins and
Henry Winkler. There will also be special performances by
Liza Minnelli and
Barry Manilow in honor of the couple’s special day.
In spite of the much opposed Proposition 8, the initiative measure currently on the 2008 California General Election ballot entitled “Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry,” the couple firmly believes that their blessed union will be legally recognized as long as they both shall live.
Feinstein, best known as the ambassador of the American Song book, began his career at the age of 20 when he was introduced to the great lyricist
Ira Gershwin by the widow of the legendary concert pianist-actor,
Oscar Levant. Feinstein became Gershwin’s assistant for six years, archiving the extensive Gershwin works and gaining unprecedented access to numerous unpublished Gershwin songs, which he has since performed and recorded. Discovered by
Liza Minnelli, his career took off after his Broadway show, Isn’t It Romantic, which opened in 1986. Through his live performances, recordings, film and TV appearances and his song writing (in collaboration with Alan and
Marilyn Bergman, Lindy Robbins and
Carole Bayer Sager), he has become one of the premiere interpreters of American popular song.
Most recently, Feinstein successfully released his 24th album, The Sinatra Project, a tribute to “The Chairman of the Board” himself,
Frank Sinatra.
Photo Credit: Ben Strothmann