Bobby Short was an encyclopedia of show music and saloon singer, and I especially enjoyed his breezy renditions of Cole Porter gems (like ''Can Can'') and witty songs, like ''At the Moving Picture Ball.'' There's a 1979 documentary ''Bobby Short at the Café Carlyle'' on YouTube. In it, he does many tunes, including ''Honeysuckle Rose,'' ''Bojangles of Harlem'' and ''Losing My Mind.''
By the way, Sondheim says that during the first two years that ''A Little Night Music'' was playing, Short was the only performer who was attracted to ''Send in the Clowns.'' It was only later that Judy Collins and Frank Sinatra latched onto it.
Though Short never publicly acknowledged that he was gay, his circle knew. Asked why he hadn't taken part in any of the gay pride marches of the 1970s and 1980s, Short said: "I have a living to make! I can't afford to march in the Gay Pride Parade.'' |
