A Tribute to Adam Schlesinger

Earlier this month, Adam Schlesinger died at 52 due to complications with Covid-19. It was devastating for those who knew him and for so many people who were touched by his music. Adam was a kind and generous person. He was also a brilliant musical mind and a prolific Grammy and Emmy winning songwriter. I had the distinct honor of getting to work with him, along with his production partner Steven Gold, on dozens of songs over the past several years and it was truly a gift. He had an incomparable ability to write uniquely clever compositions, often simultaneously heartfelt and hilarious, in any genre. I loved being in the studio singing on those songs, which were always surprising and original, and each time I would feel excited for the world to hear what we were recording. The songs were for projects ranging from charity productions for Comedy Central and World Aids Day, to a new TV channel launch, to early demos for Sarah Silverman’s musical, to singing reference and backing vocals for Patti Lupone and Neil Patrick Harris, and finally to singing on about 20 songs over the 4-season run of Crazy-Ex Girlfriend for which Adam was Music Director. Normally I wouldn’t share a demo recording, but I’d like to make an exception and share one - I have such fond memories of this session singing “This Session is Going to Be Different“ from Season 3 of Crazy Ex. Adam will be sorely missed and I am so grateful I knew him.