Songs for a New World

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 4:10pm

This is probably a "blah" question . . . but I bought Songs for a New World the other day (my old copy is all scratched up) and I looked at the booklet insert and realized for the first time, that the fourth singer (Ty) is missing from all of the pictures, even the cover. Anyone know who this person is?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 4:57pm

Ty Taylor did not do the run at the WPA Theatre. Billy Porter originated the role of "Man 1". At the same time, Billy signed a major recording deal, and was told to distance himself from anything theatre-related (ie, anything gay). So, Billy was not permitted to do the recording, and they had to find a person to sing his songs. Since Ty was not in the production, there are no pictures of him.

If you look close enough on the front cover, you can see Billy Porter.

[NightLaughs]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 5:08pm

Wow, I had no idea. Thats so interesting. I wonder if Billy resented his label for that... hmm.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 5:26pm

Well, Billy only released one solo album with them (the now out-of-print "Untitled") and quickly went back to the world of theatre, where he has been ever since.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 7:12pm

I didn't know Billy was in the original either. He would have rocked (I was thinking that Ty sounded a lot like Billy while I was listening to it).

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 7:13pm

Billy was incredible. His "King of the World" (which you can hear on his website) was outrageously brilliant.

[soulman83]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 7:39pm

you can also hear him sing the first two songs from SFANW on his website! let nots forget about Beauty School Dropout from GREASE!!!!!