Alexander Hamilton, who died Jan. 30 at age 77, was a conductor and arranger who was able to add “movie star” to his credits in the last years of his life. His work on Aretha Franklin&#…
” album — certified as the bestselling album of her career — was heard by millions over a period of almost five decades before Franklin fans actually got to see as well as hear Hamilton’s handiwork as the arranger and conductor of that music. When the film rendering of that recording finally came out in 2018, Hamilton loomed as nearly as large a personality on-screen as its ostensible stars, James Cleveland and Franklin herself., shares his memories of Hamilton with Variety.
That album blended in to become a part of the fabric of popular music. Like the air we breathe, we take for granted that an arrangement like “Mary, Don’t You Weep” or “How I Got Over” just exists, because how could it not? Without Alex, our ears and our souls would not have known what we were missing! As choir member Mary Hall said, “Alex created the sound of ‘Amazing Grace.’ He was incredible.
“Amazing Grace,” the film, took the patience of 47 years of waiting to come out. When I met Alex, it was year 36 of waiting for his close-up. He showed up at many of the film screenings as we tried to raise money, invariably unsuccessfully. We passed the hat and it usually came back with lint. Alex was patient. He was a man of faith and good humor. He had the solidity of knowing.Alexander Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton and the surviving members of the “Amazing Grace” choir before the film’s regional L.A. premiere in 2019Alex, battered by a series of strokes that had robbed him of his movie-star strut, came down the aisle in his wheelchair to lead the choir back in this most sacred space. The one-time movie house turned Baptist church once more was graced by the remaining Southern California Community Choir.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Moulin Rouge' to 'Big Little Lies': 9 Most Iconic Nicole Kidman PerformancesFrom 'Moulin Rouge' to 'Big Little Lies,' here are Nicole Kidman's 9 most iconic performances.
Read more »
The Book of Boba Fett's New Luke Skywalker Actor Reacts to Star Wars RoleThe Book of BobaFett's new Luke Skywalker actor Graham Hamilton reacts to StarWars role: 'I am humbled beyond words and forever grateful.'
Read more »
On China Television, Corrupt Officials, Corporate Villains Are Bad GuysThe Chinese state television documentary series 'Zero Tolerance,' featuring public confessions of corruption, signals more pain for private companies
Read more »
Lotus Carlton | SpottedSpotted: Remember when a measly 377hp blew everyone's mind?
Read more »
One Piece: Red Producer Reveals Series Creator's Requests for New MovieThe producer behind One Piece: Red revealed the requests series creator Eiichiro Oda had for the [...]
Read more »
Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who Will Be Appreciated Over Time, Says ProducerEven though Jodie Whittaker's portrayal of the Doctor faced a lot of backlash, producer Matt Strevens thinks DoctorWho fans will eventually appreciate her time on the series.
Read more »