And the Hello and welcome once again to So DiJerker on songwriting.

Joining us today is a British American singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, Tony Award-winning

dramatist and author who made some of the most sumptuous singer-songwriter albums of the 70s and whose compositions have been

recorded by the likes of Barbara Streisand, Barry Manilow, Dolly Parton, Dionne, and even Brittany Spears,

were delighted to welcome the magnificent Rupert Holmes to the show.

Rupert's someone we've wanted on the show for the longest time.

For us he's one of the most talented, not to mention underrated, living songwriters.

So it's so exciting to be able to bring you this

interview and it's safe to say he did not disappoint. The man is a born recantere.

You are infra-treat folks. Rupert was born in Northwich, Cheshire in England in 1947.

His dad was an American army band leader who met his mother while stationed in the UK and

his family emigrated to New York when he was six.

He studied clarinet at Syracuse University in New York State before attending the Manhattan School of Music, majoring in music theory. He soon became a part of the New York session scene, producing in the ranging sessions for the likes of the Drifters, the Platters, and

Jean Pitney while still in his teens.

He was also writing songs, one of which the infamous Timothy written for the Bois became his

first top 20 hit. More of that song later.

Our guest met a major collaborator in producer and engineer Jeffrey Lesser in 1973,

landed a recording deal with Epic and made this breakthrough as a solo artist with the album

Widescreen, which was a tremendous showcase for his abilities as a story song writer par excellence

and brought him to the attention of no less than Barbara Strizand.

With Jeffrey Lesser, he produced Strizant's 1975 album Lazy Afternoon, and went on to write several songs for the soundtrack of her

1976 film A Star is Born.

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