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FEDERATION OF AMERICAN MUSICIANS, SINGERS AND PERFORMING ARTISTS, INCORPORATED (FAMSPA), USA
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Visit the website of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment, published by the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists. Read about the listees and purchase your copies at http://www.worldwhoswhoinjazzcabaretmusicandentertainment.com/

 

SHOWBIZ TIME MAGAZINE. April-May Issue P.73                                       Cover of the Magazine     Table of Contents     

 

THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN...Nancy LaMott...Pam Bricker...

Nancy LaMott Is Not Forgotten

By LeisureGuy

Terry Teachout thought that Nancy LaMott (1951-1995), was the greatest cabaret singer ever.

Nancy LaMott, probably the greatest singer of American Popular Standards of her generation, was on the verge of stardom when she was struck down, at the age of 43, by Uterine Cancer. Nancy came from the Midwestern town of Midland, Michigan (or, as she used to call it, a suburb of the Dow Chemical Company.) She coped with a childhood that was less than idyllic by singing with her father’s band, and by developing Crohn’s Disease, a serious but little known bowel and immune disorder that surfaced in her late teens. Although she was often hospitalized and desperately ill, she knew she had to get out of Midland and pursue her dream as a singer. At the age of 19, she and her brother Brett, who was her drummer, headed out to San Francisco. Nancy soon became one of the most sought-after cabaret singers in San Francisco, but her illness continued and she found herself alternating between singing triumphs and hospital stays. In addition, Nancy often had long periods where she had to be on cortisone and prescription pain killers for her disease, and addictive patterns and eating disorders became an added burden for her.

 

But still, her singing triumphed, and soon she realized she had conquered San Francisco and needed to head for New York. Unfortunately, due to her illness and her tremendous medical bills, Nancy had no money, another problem that would plague her throughout her life. But as so often happened, a loyal friend and fan had such belief in her that he gave her a plane ticket, and she was on her way to New York. The pattern that had occurred in San Francisco recurred in New York. Nancy quickly became known in the small circle of the cabaret world as one of the great singers of her time, but her momentum toward success was always interrupted by illness, surgery and the resulting lack of funds. People were captivated not only by Nancy’s talent, but by her simple goodness and beauty of spirit, and she made many good friends, including David Zippel, Mark Sendroff, Bill McGrath and Bob Baker, who were there for her triumphs and helped her through the bad times.

Still, somehow she remained New York cabaret’s best kept secret. But all that was about to change. In 1989 she met composer/conductor David Friedman, who felt she should be making records, and offered to produce them himself. When the first record, “Beautiful Baby” was completed, Nancy walked into HMV Records and said “Hi, I made this. Would you sell it?” And HMV took 8 copies. But they played it in the store, and to hear Nancy was to buy Nancy. Soon the company made enough money to make a second record. This time, HMV started with 250, and the record went into the top 10 in the store. Through her records, Nancy’s popularity began to spread to a wider circle and she began breaking attendance records at some the most prestigious clubs in New York including the Chestnut Room at Tavern on the Green and the world famous Oak Room at the Algonquin. 

Continues NEXT The Great Nancy LaMott