Marvin Hamlisch Brought Charismatic Personality To 'Pittsburgh Today Live'

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Marvin Hamlisch was the biggest and brightest star to appear on "Pittsburgh Today Live" on a regular basis.

Despite his international stature, he made time to come to KDKA.

On his appearance in September, KDKA's Kristine Sorensen reminded him that he has won an Oscar, Grammy, Tony, Golden Globe, Academy Award, Emmy and a Pulitzer.

"Yeah, but let me tell you something about that," he said. "As good as that is, and that's wonderful, right? But on a Saturday in New York – on a rainy Saturday – and I'm trying to get a cab, that doesn't help."

When Marvin walked in the studio, his presence filled the room. He was a big personality with a dry sense of humor.

"If it was up to me, we'd do the Christmas show in June. That's when you need a lift."

Live on the show, he improvised music and lyrics off the top of his head, and he always made us laugh.

" 'Don't cry for me Argentina.' If it had been in Pittsburgh, the Spanish would have been, 'Don't cry for me Pittsburgh.' It would have been so much … it would have been better."

Singer Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in the Disney movie "The Little Mermaid" said she grew up watching "A Chorus Line" and that working with Marvin over the past 27 years was a dream come true.

"He's a genius and when you work with a genius, you up your performance," she said. "So, I feel like when I am standing on stage with him, that I have more to offer to the audience."

Marvin's last time on "Pittsburgh Today Live" was in January with saxophonist Dave Koz. Together they played Marvin's hit, "The Way We Were."

Now we're only left with memories of Marvin, but his music will live forever.

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