Steve Lawrence

I live on the upper West Side of Manhattan with my second wife Cathy Lawrence, whom I married in June, 2002. We live with her 16 year old identical twin boys. My daughter Hannah, who is 20, is an English major at the University of Iowa, where she hopes to join the Writer's Workshop when she graduates.

Cathy is a cantor. She is an extraordinary singer, chef, mother, and, of course, wife. I'm a composer. I composed the title song and several others for the classic children's album, book, and TV special, Free To Be… You And Me. Also, the score for the Robert DeNiro movie Bang The Drum Slowly. I've received three EMMY awards for Sesame Street, for which I've composed over 100 songs and scores. Also, the million-selling single, You Take My Breath Away, which became one of my three Gold Records. Enough. Such shameless self-promotion is unseemly, although I do seem to show a weakness for it on occasion.

About my experience at Great Neck High, an indelible memory is the periods of physical education in which scores for several activities were read to the entire class. This encourages those who need no encouragement, and discourages those who need it most. I hope times have changed. I remember some talented, dedicated teachers. Also, at least compared to what I sampled when my daughter attended an outrageously expensive school here in New York, a tasty menu in the cafeteria.

I continue to compose for Sesame Street, although fewer shows are produced now than several years ago. I am composing children's musicals, most recently No Dogs Allowed, with book by Sonia Manzano, who plays Maria on Sesame Street, and lyrics by Billy Aronson. It is based on Sonia's book of the same name. I have no plans to retire.

Please visit my website: StephenLawrenceMusic.com.