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David Friedman, owner of Midder Music Records, told famous cabaret singer Nancy LaMott that he would help her share her music despite her fight with cancer, which she was diagnosed with in December 1995, and died that month.
Friedman is working on a new CD titled “Nancy LaMott sings David Zippel,” using previously recorded material. He had worked on all her previous albums.
LaMott was honored in 1994 by New York Magazine as Cabaret Singer of the Year and one reviewer called her “the best cabaret singer since Frank Sinatra.” Before her career was cut short by cancer, a few of her tour stops included The White House.
Friedman discovered LaMott while following other artists.
“We moved in the same circles so I was aware of her,” said Friedman, “Then, David Zippel asked me to music direct a show of his and invited me to a backer’s audition at a Central Park West apartment. Nancy was performing the songs and I was knocked out by her, so I began following her and going to her performances.”
Friedman executive produced LaMott’s first CD “Beautiful Baby” in 1991. In 1995, they began recording her first CD with an orchestra. About halfway through the process, she received her diagnosis. Friedman mixed the CD while she was undergoing chemo therapy.
Still, LaMott continued performing. She spent her final performance, which can be seen on YouTube, singing “Moon River” on Charles Grodin’s cable television show on Dec 4, 1995. She died on Dec. 13.
Then litigation erupted over LaMott’s estate. Friedman could no longer release her music. After seven years of negotiation, Freidman got the rights to release a new CD, “Live at Tavern on the Green” in 2005. The economic downturn in 2007, however, made it more difficult for Friedman to release more material.
For his latest effort, Friedman turned to the crowd sourcing site Indiegogo to raise $50,000 to produce and promote the new CD.
To learn more about LaMott and her music, click here.
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