Marvin Laird, the award-winning Broadway and film composer who also conducted concerts for major stars like Diana Ross and Bernadette Peters, died Monday in Connecticut of natural causes. He was 85 years old.
Laird has been involved in numerous hits on stage and the big screen. His most notable Broadway shows include “Annie,” “Get Your Gun,” “Gipsy,” and “Follies.” His stage presence extended beyond Broadway, where he performed concerts for people like Joel Gray, Cass Elliot, Dusty Springfield, and Goldie Hawn. He also composed dance music for the ballet “Smile with My Heart” and the score for the song “Ruthless!” “The Musical” alongside Joel Paley, who wrote the book and its lyrics. Laird and Paley later became marriage partners.
As for the film’s credits, Laird wrote the dance music for “Hello, Dolly!” championship Barbra Streisand, “New York, New York” starring Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro, and Robert Altman’s “Company.” He scored popular TV shows including “Dynasty” and “The Love Boat.”
“My beloved Marvin had an impeccable style, a delicious sense of humor, and a generous spirit that made everyone who worked with him fall in love with him,” commented Peters, for whom Laird composed concerts. She continued to express her gratitude for his skill and influence, “I have been a huge beneficiary of Marvin’s genius and generosity of support and love.”
Laird was born on October 26, 1939, in Kansas City. He is survived by her husband, Joel Paley, his brother, Larry Lee, his sister-in-law, Jane Laird, and his nieces, Lana Whitaker and Lynette Norcross.
