Music & memories with the Oscar-winning lyricist, Don Black, plus live performance from West End legend Marti Webb.

A fitting finale to the 70th anniversary Jewish Book Week; an evening of live music and memories celebrating the Oscar, Olivier and Tony winner Don Black, the lyricist behind Born Free, To Sir With Love, four Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals and five Bond themes, including Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever. Over the last six decades he has written with composers including John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Jule Styne, for performers such as Michael Jackson, Van Morrison and Barbra Streisand and for award-winning films Dances With Wolves, The Italian Job, Out of Africa and True Grit.

As well as being in conversation with former BBC and ITV chief Michael Grade about his career and memoir The Sanest Guy In The Room, his frequent collaborator Marti Webb will perform several of his iconic songs.

After starring in the original productions of Half a Sixpence, Godspell, Evita and Oliver! her signature show Tell Me On A Sunday was created for her by Black and Lloyd Webber and she went on to work with the lyricist on several albums and the hit singles Ben and Always There.

Sponsored by Jacqueline & Michael Gee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXv3UGhLp4

Don Black is the songwriter’s songwriter, a composer’s dream collaborator, and the man behind some of the late twentieth century’s greatest musical numbers. Called ‘the Pelé of lyricists’ by Robbie Williams, Don’s stellar career has seen him win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Tony and an Ivor Novello Award, as well as platinum, gold and silver disks. In a delightful paean to a life lived through song, Don talks to Michael Grade about working with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini, Lulu and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Michael Grade, Lord Grade of Yarmouth, has had a long career in broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC and ITV, as well as over nine years as Chief Executive of Channel Four Television.