Scott Schechter, died suddenly on Friday May 15 of a heart attack.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/16/09 at 8:53pm

Scott wrote the Liza Minnelli scrapbook and was considered ( by many. many) the premier Garland / Minnelli authority. Very nice and passionate man. He will be missed.

SCOTT SCHECHTER
BIOGRAPHY

"Scott Schechter has devoted over a quarter of a century to researching the lives and careers of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, earning his status as the premier Garland-Minnelli authority.

His research and devotion have led to his working with many of the companies that continue to release Garland-Minnelli material, including Capitol Records and Pioneer Entertainment / Classic World Productions, Inc. His expertise as a Garland-Minnelli historian has been acknowledged on his TV and Radio appearances; as a source in PR functions; and in dealing with media such as Liz Smith, et Al. Mr. Schechter is perhaps proudest of his role as archivist, which has led to the uncovering and releasing of rare or lost material.

TV shows that Mr. Schechter has consulted on as a Judy Garland or Liza Minnelli authority have included ABC's "20/20," Good Morning, America,, AMC?s "Behind The Screen", NBC's "Dateline," and A&E's "Biography" series. E! Entertainment Televisions recent True Hollywood Story 2-Hour special on Garland's life and career was critically acclaimed by TV Guide and USA Today, etc.; For this episode -- which was one of the 15 highest-rated "THS" shows of that series' 5-year and 200-episode run -- Schechter served as Consulting Producer. The program was honored with a GRACIE AWARD, and was nominated for a PRISM AWARD, for best TV documentary.

For his marketing and PR efforts, Mr. Schechter has obtained the highest profile exposure for his clients. Media such as Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today, Fox News Channel, ABC Network, E! Entertainment, and TV Guide have been utilized.

In 1998, Mr. Schechter co-produced what is considered the definitive audio overview of Garland's career : the 4-CD box set "Judy" from 32 Records, which spans the entire 40 years of her recorded legacy, from her earliest known recordings in 1929 at age 7, to one of her final appearances in 1969, shortly before her passing. Along with compiling the material for the compact discs from his archives of Garland's work, he performed similar duties for the set's 32-minute video, and its 100-page book. This lavish set received rave reviews from the New York Times, People, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and the NY Post, which concluded its review by saying music historian Scott Schechter's essay is an excellent read and will earn him a nomination for the prestigious Grammy Award for best liner notes.

Mr. Schechter's liner notes on other Garland-Minnelli projects have been mentioned in USA Today, Billboard, and the Los Angeles Times. As a writer, his words on Garland and family have appeared in the Advocate, Show Music magazine, and three editorials printed in the New York Times (1994, 1998 and 2001).

In 2000, Mr. Schechter was instrumental in getting Garland's historic, Grammy-winning Album Of The Year "Judy at Carnegie Hall" released complete and uncut, exactly as it happened that night, in its proper running order -- for the first time ever -- and as a deluxe 24-Karat Gold audiophile set.

Schechter's recent CD projects include Capitol Records"?Judy at Carnegie Hall : Fortieth Anniversary Edition" and that label's new 2-CD set of material he produced and compiled, called "Classic Judy Garland -- The Capitol Years (1955-1965)"; Collectables Records,Miss Show Business / Judy and Judy : That's Entertainment! / I Could Go On Singing?










www.officiallizaminnelli.com

Updated On: 5/17/09 at 08:53 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/16/09 at 11:17pm

Wow...46...one year younger than Judy was when she died. His whole life was Judy and her daughters.

My encounters with him were strange and strained, but one thing was always clear: Whatever he did, he did out of passion, even when he was misguided. May he rest in peace, and may the rest of us be inspired by that passion to learn from his mistakes.

Updated On: 5/16/09 at 11:17 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:19pm

Just curious at to what your referring to when you say he was misguided.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:24pm

Another time.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:34pm

um.. ok. hm

[SheridanSq]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 2:55pm

Scott and I were friends for 28 years. We shared a deep love of Judy and Liza that kept us talking at least once a week since the day we met.

It was comforting to have somebody in my life who understood my devotion. We didn't have to ask "Why do you like her so much?" Because loving them is as central to our being as breathing. Totally instinctive.

My relationship with him was not strained. But perhaps I can learn from his mistakes. So if you would be so inclined to share, please tell us what you meant. With him being gone only a few days its certainly the right time.

Scott Gorenstein

[DAME]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 4:38pm

Scott,
I love this peace about you.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2008/08/lizas_number_on.php

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 5:48pm

I thought this was about the 'director' from 'The First Nudie Musical'...

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 11:38am

They are having trouble locating his family.
MH

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 11:58am

Have they tried Facebook or Myspace?

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:07pm

Diva .. how was Coco? Anyway.. PJ says this guy covered both of Garlands daughters.. but I can't find anything on Lorna. Have you spoken to Lorna? I don't think he ever covered Lorna. But I should ad.. PJ would know.

Updated On: 5/18/09 at 12:07 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:11pm

Lorna's back from overseas, I'm actually supposed to call her today. Should I ask her?

CoCo was fantastic! It's nice to see that she's bothered by the same things that bother me. (Damn Kids!)

I had a great time, sat with Mama.

Updated On: 5/18/09 at 12:11 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:16pm

Diva.. I almost went last night. No kidding. Yeah.. ask Lorna. Why not?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:29pm

I'm running to the store and will call her when I get back.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:30pm

waiting on pins and needles.

[Yawper]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 1:14pm

He most certainly at one time covered Lorna but did no longer. Perhaps that break is part of what PJ is referring to.

They reached Schechter's brother over the weekend. Updated On: 5/18/09 at 01:14 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 5:07pm

I'm not going to bother her with it...

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 6:50pm

Oh I will ask her. Casually.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:28pm

And she'll probably casually punch you.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:29pm

Naw.. as you knonw Lorna is pretty cool.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:32pm

That's why I said 'casually'...

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:34pm

LOL Hey you should come this summer to Liza t the Bowl. i think we are there Saturday night. And I bet if he is in town Coco will be there.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:37pm

I'll be running a show... Unless I can take the night off, but I doubt that.


Besides, I've seen Liza at the Bowl...

[DAME]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:40pm

You should still come. She is pretty full saturday night. Don't know about Friday.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:49pm

If I can make it.

Is she going to do something new? :P