Award-winning composer Marc Shaiman first worked as a music director and arranger for Bette Midler's extravagant live shows. He later supervised the music for the diva's films Divine Madness (1980), Big Business, and Beaches (both 1988). He made his debut as a composer on the soundtrack of Rob Reiner's Misery (1990) and subsequently scored three more films for him. He has also worked with Barry Sonnenfeld on both Addams Family films and with Ron Underwood. In addition to composing music, Shaiman also produces records and, in 1989, earned a gold record for his work on the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack.
Marc Shaiman
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- First became enamored of Bette Midler at age 9, when he saw her in a Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof (she played Tzeitel).
- Left high school at age 16 (after earning his GED) to pursue a musical career in New York City.
- Met Ula Hedwig, one of the Harlettes (Bette Midler's backup singers), not long after moving to NYC; she lived across the hall from his friend's apartment. He became their musical director when they decided to launch an act of their own.
- Became vocal arranger for Bette Midler, his childhood icon, before he was 18; eventually became her musical director and producer.
- Wrote music for the "Sweeney Sisters" skits on Saturday Night Live during the 1980s, and also appeared in them as the piano player. He met Billy Crystal as a result, who introduced him to Rob Reiner; he has scored movies by both in the years since.
- Has worked with such musical artists as Peter Allen, Eric Clapton, Harry Connick Jr., Lauryn Hill, Patti LuPone and Barbra Streisand.
- Wrote the star-studded FunnyorDie.com video "Prop 8—The Musical," which received 1.2 million hits on its first day online in 2008.