Elly Stone
Encyclopedia
Elly Stone is an American singer and actress best known for her interpretations of the music of Jacques Brel
.
Stone began her career in the 1950s, singing in a variety of off-beat venues ranging from a carnival to a burlesque show. In 1962, she was Barbra Streisand
’s understudy for the Broadway
musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale
. In 1968, she achieved recognition as one of the stars of the Off-Broadway
revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
, which was co-written by her husband, Eric Blau
.
Stone stayed with the Off-Broadway production for two years, and appeared with Brel in 1970 French television special. She later starred in the 1972 Broadway incarnation of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
and in the 1975 motion picture version
, produced by the American Film Theatre
. Although she appeared in other theatrical productions and enjoyed success as a cabaret
and concert headliner, including a 1980 concert at Carnegie Hall
in New York
celebrating her 25th anniversary in the entertainment industry, Stone’s identification with Brel remained strong. In 2006, she provided an Off-Broadway revival of revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
with previously unseen English-language translations by Eric Blau of Brel’s music.
“Jacques Brel's music is effective because it deals with the most basic of human passions,” said Stone in a 2008 interview with the Marin Independent-Journal. “It's all about the human condition. When you're dealing with something like that, it's not bound by time. It makes people feel."
Elly made various recordings in her career. Besides the "Jacques Brel..." Original Cast and Soundtrack recordings, she released "Elly Stone" on Columbia Records. She also recorded a variety of "Jewish Folk Songs" on the Tikva label in which she sang and played guitar. In the late 70's she released an album on Eebee Records entitled "The Spirit of 76".
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
.
Stone began her career in the 1950s, singing in a variety of off-beat venues ranging from a carnival to a burlesque show. In 1962, she was Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
’s understudy for the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
I Can Get It for You Wholesale is a musical with music and lyrics by Harold Rome and a book by Jerome Weidman based on his 1937 novel of the same title. It marked the Broadway debut of 19-year-old Barbra Streisand, who was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in...
. In 1968, she achieved recognition as one of the stars of the Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
, which was co-written by her husband, Eric Blau
Eric Blau
Milton Eric Blau was the creator of the Off Broadway show Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.-Biography:...
.
Stone stayed with the Off-Broadway production for two years, and appeared with Brel in 1970 French television special. She later starred in the 1972 Broadway incarnation of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
and in the 1975 motion picture version
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (film)
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a 1975 French/Canadian musical film directed by Denis Héroux. The screenplay by Eric Blau is an adaptation of his book for the long-running off-Broadway revue of the same name...
, produced by the American Film Theatre
American Film Theatre
The American Film Theatre was a limited run series of film adaptations of stage plays, produced by Ely Landau. Two seasons were produced from 1973 to 1975...
. Although she appeared in other theatrical productions and enjoyed success as a cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
and concert headliner, including a 1980 concert at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
celebrating her 25th anniversary in the entertainment industry, Stone’s identification with Brel remained strong. In 2006, she provided an Off-Broadway revival of revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
with previously unseen English-language translations by Eric Blau of Brel’s music.
“Jacques Brel's music is effective because it deals with the most basic of human passions,” said Stone in a 2008 interview with the Marin Independent-Journal. “It's all about the human condition. When you're dealing with something like that, it's not bound by time. It makes people feel."
Elly made various recordings in her career. Besides the "Jacques Brel..." Original Cast and Soundtrack recordings, she released "Elly Stone" on Columbia Records. She also recorded a variety of "Jewish Folk Songs" on the Tikva label in which she sang and played guitar. In the late 70's she released an album on Eebee Records entitled "The Spirit of 76".