David Friedman

David Friedman is a multi-talented artist who has made a name for himself in the Broadway community as a composer, lyricist, and pianist. Born in New York City in 1950, Friedman began playing the piano at the age of four and was composing music by the time he was six. He attended the Manhattan School of Music and later the Juilliard School, where he studied piano and composition.

Friedman made his Broadway debut in 1983 as the conductor and pianist for the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He went on to work on several other Broadway productions, including "Song and Dance," "The Rink," "Scandalous," and "Desperate Measures." In addition to his work on Broadway, Friedman has also composed music for a number of off-Broadway productions, including "Listen to My Heart," "King Island Christmas," and "Stunt Girl."

Friedman is perhaps best known for his work as a composer and lyricist for the Disney animated film "Aladdin." He co-wrote the song "You're Only Second Rate" for the film's villain, Jafar, and contributed additional lyrics to the film's hit song "A Whole New World," which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Friedman also wrote the music and lyrics for the off-Broadway musical "The Marvelous Wonderettes," which has become a popular choice for high school and community theater productions.

In addition to his work in theater and film, Friedman has also had success as a recording artist. He has released several albums of his own music, including "The David Friedman Trio Plays Rodgers and Hammerstein," "We Can Be Kind," and "Let Me Fly." He has also collaborated with other artists, including jazz singer Lynn Loosier and Broadway star Liz Callaway.

Friedman has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for "The Marvelous Wonderettes" and the MAC Award for Song of the Year for "Listen to My Heart." He has also been nominated for several Emmy Awards for his work on television, including the theme song for the daytime talk show "Sally Jessy Raphael" and the score for the PBS documentary "The Civil War."

In addition to his work as a composer and lyricist, Friedman is also a respected educator. He has taught at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and the Manhattan School of Music, and has led workshops and master classes around the world. He is the author of several books on songwriting and creativity, including "The Thought Exchange" and "The Gift of Song."

Despite his many accomplishments, Friedman remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He is known for his generosity and willingness to help other artists, and has been a mentor to many young composers and songwriters. He continues to work on new projects and collaborate with other artists, and his music remains a beloved part of the Broadway and off-Broadway canon.