Michael Feinstein

Grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to LA when he was 19 (where he met Ira Gershwin )

Father, Edward, used to be a singer and also a sales executive for the Sara Lee Corporation. Mother, Maizie, tap dances semi-professionally.

Started playing piano by ear at age 5. Took piano lessons for a couple of months until his teacher became angered that he wasnt reading the music she gave him to play. Since Michaels mother saw no problem with her sons method, she took him out of lessons and allowed him to enjoy music his own way.

Owns his own nightclub in Manhattan, Feinsteins at the Regency, which is the premier showcase for cabaret performers. Feinstein himself plays a sold-out show there during the holidays every year.

Known to many as the "Ambassador of the Great American Songbook." His repertoire as a singer/pianist includes songs by many great American songwriters, such as George Gershwin , Irving Berlin , Jerome Kern , Johnny Mercer , Duke Ellington and Harry Warren.

Has a talent for finding "lost," older songs, and breathing new life into them, thereby preserving great music for future generations.

Was introduced to Ira Gershwin through Oscar Levant s widow, June. Michael revered Ira and George Gershwin , and he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the pairs work. Michael recounted many stories he knew about the two during his first meeting with Ira, and he was so impressed with the young man that he made him his assistant for 6 years.

Member of the Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Board

Started playing in piano bars right out of high school to support himself

In 1988, his one-man Broadway show called "Isnt It Romantic: Michael Feinstein in Concert" made him famous.

Cousin of Alan Barinholtz , Ike Barinholtz , Jon Barinholtz.

My life is music. It has always been music, and it will always be music.

(About how Michael annoyed his sister because he could duplicate,whatever she practiced on the keyboard) "At one point she was,practicing "Malaguena" over and over again. As soon as she finished, I,could sit down and play the piece, because I had heard it enough times.

I loved the music that my parents listened to rather than what was on,the radio at the time. I was very enamored with show music and I,listened to a lot of the music that I now perform.

I feel it is important to keep writing and creating more music at a time,when we truly need it. Music is healing and significant not only as an,art but as a means of creating a transformation.

The Gershwin legacy is extraordinary because George Gershwin died in 1937, but his music is as fresh and vital today as when he originally created it. .