Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BART, Lionel

(b Lionel Begleiter, 1 Aug. '30, London; d 3 April '99) Composer, lyricist. After art school and RAF service he formed pop group the Cavemen '56 with Mike Pratt and Tommy Steele, providing Steele with his first chart entry 'Rock With The Cavemen': Bart and Steele turned to the musical stage. The Tommy Steele Story won Ivor Novello Awards for complete score, 'A Handful Of Songs', 'Water, Water'; Bart's name on ten others. 'Living Doll' was no. 1 for Cliff Richard '59; 'Little White Bull' for Steele's film Tommy The Toreador won another award. Bart was recognized for 'Outstanding Personal Services to British Popular Music'. Wrote scores Lock Up Your Daughters (Mermaid Theatre), Fings Ain't Wot They Used To Be (Theatre Royal, Stratford East; transferred to West End for two years). 'Do You Mind' was a a no. 1 for Anthony Newley '60, but that year Bart pulled off an internationally successful British musical, a trick then believed impossible: Oliver! had score, lyrics and book by Bart based on Dickens's Oliver Twist; the score included 'Where Is Love', award-winning 'As Long As He Needs Me' and ran for over 2,500 performances, revived '67, again '71 and ran for almost three years; film '68 won six Oscars. Blitz '62 ran more than a year; Maggie May '65 did reasonably well; Twang '65 was flop; La Strada '69, based on '54 Fellini film, closed opening night NYC. He was always rumoured to have new projects hatching.