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Adam Schlesinger

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Adam Schlesinger
Schlesinger performing in 2009
Born
Adam Lyons Schlesinger

(1967-10-31)October 31, 1967
New York City,U.S.
DiedApril 1, 2020(2020-04-01)(aged 52)
Poughkeepsie, New York,U.S.
Cause of deathComplications fromCOVID-19
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
Years active1989–2020
RelativesJon Bernthal(cousin)
Tom Bernthal(cousin)
Murray Bernthal(grandfather)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • drums
  • vocals

Adam Lyons Schlesinger(October 31, 1967 – April 1, 2020) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, and record producer. He was a founding member of the bandsFountains of Wayne,Ivy,andTinted Windows,and was a key songwriting contributor and producer for Brooklyn-based synth-pop duoFever High.He also wrote songs for television and film, for which he won threeEmmy Awards,aGrammy Award,and the ASCAP Pop Music Award, and was nominated forAcademy,Tony,andGolden Globe Awards.[2]He died unexpectedly due to complications ofCOVID-19at the age of 52.

Early life[edit]

Schlesinger was born inNew York Cityon October 31, 1967,[3]the son of publicist Barbara (née Bernthal) and Stephen Schlesinger.[4]He was a cousin of actorJon Bernthal[5]and the grandson of musicianMurray Bernthal(1911–2010).[6]He was raised in asecular Jewishfamily[7][8]in theManhattanborough of New York City andMontclair, New Jersey,attendingMontclair High Schoolin the latter.[9]He received aBachelor of Artsin philosophy fromWilliams CollegeinWilliamstown, Massachusetts.[2]

Songwriting[edit]

Film[edit]

In addition to writing and co-producing thetitle songtoThat Thing You Do!,Schlesinger composed "Master of the Seas" forIce Age: Continental Drift,performed byJennifer Lopez,Peter Dinklageand others. He wrote and produced three songs forMusic and Lyrics,[10][11]and his music has also been featured in films such asShallow Hal(which he scored with Ivy);[12]Robots;[13]There's Something About Mary;[12]Me, Myself & Irene;[14]Josie and the Pussycats;[11]Scary Movie;[15]Art School Confidential;[16]Fever Pitch;[17]The Manchurian Candidate;[18]Because of Winn-Dixie;[19]Orange County;[20]Two Weeks Notice;[14]and others.

Songs performed by other artists[edit]

In theatre[edit]

Schlesinger andThe Daily Showexecutive producerDavid Javerbaumco-wrote the songs for the musical theater adaptation of theJohn WatersfilmCry-Baby.[21]Cry-Babydebuted at theLa Jolla PlayhouseinLa Jolla, Californiain November 2007.[21]Previews for theBroadwayrun began at theMarquis Theatreon March 15, 2008. Its official opening night was April 24, 2008.[22]

Schlesinger and Javerbaum co-wrote the closing song "I Have Faith in You" for Javerbaum's playAn Act of God,which opened on Broadway on May 28, 2015. The song is performed byJim Parsons,Chris Fitzgerald, andTim Kazurinsky.

Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman collaborated on a musical titledThe Bedwetter,based on herbook of the same name.[23]The musical was set for previews to begin on May 9, 2020, at the Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater; opening night was scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2020.[24]The dates were later postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.The musical ultimately premiered in previews in April 2022.[25]Prior to his death, Schlesinger had been working on the music for a stage adaption of the television seriesThe Nanny.[26]

In television[edit]

Schlesinger and Javerbaum co-wrote the opening number of the 2011 Tony Awards ceremony "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore" as well as the opening and closing numbers of the 2012 Tony Awards, "What If Life Were More Like Theater" and "If I Had Time", all performed by Neil Patrick Harris. They wrote "TV Is a Vast Wonderland", the opening number of the 2011 Emmy Awards, performed byJane Lynchand "The Number in the Middle of the Show", performed at the 2013 Emmy Awards by Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, andNathan Fillion.

Schlesinger's television composing work includes theme music, songs, and/or score forI Love You, America(Hulu),The Maya Rudolph Show(NBC),A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!,the 2011 and 2012Tony Awards,the 2011 and 2013Emmy Awards,Big Time Rush,T.U.F.F. Puppy(Nickelodeon),Good Luck Charlie(Disney Channel),The Fresh Beat Band(Nickelodeon),Kathy(Bravo),Crank Yankers,Wedding Band(TBS), theBillboard Music Awards,Bubble Guppies(Nick Jr.),The Howard Stern Show,Sesame Street,Comedy Central'sNight of Too Many Stars,Robert Smigel's cartoons forSaturday Night Live,TheDisney Parks Christmas Day Paradewith Neil Patrick Harris, theComedy Awards(Comedy Central),American Dreams,Stephen King'sKingdom Hospital,The In-Laws,The Man Show,Supernoobs,Too Late with Adam Carolla,The Dana Carvey Show,John Leguizamo's House Of Buggin',My Kind of Town,Johnny Test,and others. His songs have been licensed for use on numerous television series, includingScrubs,The Hills,Gossip Girl,Melrose Place,Felicity,Roswell,and others.

He wrote songs for and was executive music producer of the scripted comedyCrazy Ex-Girlfriendon The CW.

Production work[edit]

As a record producer and mixer, he worked withthe Monkees,Fever High,Dashboard Confessional,Swirl 360,Tahiti 80,Motion City Soundtrack,[27]Verve Pipe,[15]Robert Plant,America,[28]the Sounds,They Might Be Giants,[29]Fastball,and many other artists, as well as producing or co-producing five Fountains of Wayne albums and six Ivy albums.

Side projects[edit]

Schlesinger was also in a side project band calledTinted Windowsformed by guitaristJames Iha,previously ofThe Smashing PumpkinsandA Perfect Circle,singerTaylor HansonofHanson,andBun E. CarlosofCheap Trick,and recorded and toured with them in 2009 and 2010. He also contributed to Iha's second solo album,Look to the Sky(2012).

He was the main composer and producer for Brooklyn-based synth-pop duoFever High.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Schlesinger was nominated for anAcademy Award[30]and aGolden Globe Award[31]in 1997 for writing the title track of theTom Hanks-directed filmThat Thing You Do!,[32]also contributing two other songs for the film.

Fountains of Wayne was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2003 forBest New ArtistandBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocalfor "Stacy's Mom".[33]

Schlesinger andDavid Javerbaumreceived two Tony nominations in 2008Best MusicalandBest Original Scorefor the musicalCry-Baby.[34]They also received a 2009 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for their song "Much Worse Things", performed byElvis CostelloandStephen Colberton the television special and albumA Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!The album, co-written by Schlesinger and Javerbaum, and co-produced by Schlesinger and Steven M. Gold, won the 2009Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

Schlesinger received a 2013 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Song for his "Elmothe Musical "theme forSesame Street.He and Molly Boylan received a 2011Daytime Emmynomination for the song "I Wonder" fromSesame Street.

Schlesinger and Javerbaum received a 2012Emmy AwardforOutstanding Music And Lyricsfor their song "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore", performed byNeil Patrick Harrisas the opening number of the65th Tony Awardstelecast; and a 2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Music And Lyrics for their song "If I Had Time", performed by Neil Patrick Harris as the closing number of the66th Tony Awardstelecast.

Schlesinger received two 2016 Emmy nominations for his work on the CW seriesCrazy Ex-Girlfriend:Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "Settle for Me" (co-written withRachel Bloomand Jack Dolgen), andOutstanding Main Title Theme(co-written with Rachel Bloom).

He received a 2017 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "We Tapped That Ass" (co-written with Rachel Bloom and Jack Dolgen) from the CW seriesCrazy Ex-Girlfriend.

He won the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "AntidepressantsAre So Not a Big Deal "and was nominated for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for" Meet Rebecca "(Season 4 Theme) fromCrazy Ex-Girlfriend(both co-written with Rachel Bloom and Jack Dolgen).

Personal life[edit]

On January 30, 1999, Schlesinger married Katherine Michel, a graphic designer andYalegraduate. They met in 1996 at WXOU Radio Bar,[3]a bar that Schlesinger used to frequent with Fountains of Wayne co-founderChris Collingwoodwhen they were starting the band.[35]They divorced in 2013. Schlesinger and Michel had two daughters, Sadie and Claire.[36]

Death and tribute[edit]

On April 1, 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United States,Schlesinger died of complications from COVID-19 at a hospital inPoughkeepsie, New Yorkat the age of 52.[8][37][38][2][39]He had tested positive, and was hospitalized and placed on aventilatorfor over a week before his death.[40]

On June 16, 2020, thetribute albumSaving for a Custom Vanwas released in Schlesinger's memory onFather/Daughter Records.The title is a reference to the Fountains of Wayne song "Utopia Parkway".The 31-track album features covers of songs Schlesinger wrote or performed by artists such asKay Hanley,Ben Lee,andPrince Daddy & The Hyena.His collaboratorRachel Bloomand his Fountains of Wayne bandmateJody Porteralso participated. All proceeds from the album were donated to theMusiCaresCOVID-19 relief fund.[41]

Cast members ofThat Thing You Do!as well as Colin Hanks and crew reunited on a Zoom/YouTube event during that summer, where they reminisced about Schlesinger and the movie, as well as an auction of a Mondo test pressing for a soundtracks first issue on vinyl, which was released in October 2023.

The 2021 revival ofJohnny Testwas dedicated to Schlesinger.

References[edit]

  1. ^abLeahey, Andrew."Fountains of Wayne – Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 26,2009.
  2. ^abcSisario, Ben (April 1, 2020)."Adam Schlesinger, Songwriter for Rock, Film and the Stage, Dies at 52".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  3. ^abSmith, Lois Brady (February 14, 1999)."Vows; Katherine Michel, Adam Schlesinger".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  4. ^Vanderhoof, Erin (April 1, 2020)."Adam Schlesinger Dead of Coronavirus Complications at 52".Vanity Fair.RetrievedApril 4,2020.
  5. ^"Adam Schlesinger".AOL Music. Archived fromthe originalon July 13, 2012.RetrievedJuly 15,2014.
  6. ^"Murray Bernthal dies at 99".BWW News Desk. December 11, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2011.RetrievedDecember 17,2010.
  7. ^"Fountains of Wayne cofounder Adam Schlesinger dies from coronavirus at 52".The Times of Israel.
  8. ^ab"Adam Schlesinger, Fountains of Wayne and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' songwriter, dies from coronavirus at 52".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.RetrievedApril 2,2020.
  9. ^Wise, Brian (February 8, 2004)."Eclectic Sounds of New Jersey, Echoing from Coast to Coast".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 21,2007.
  10. ^Leopold, Todd (April 3, 2007)."Creating some 'Music and Lyrics'".CNN.
  11. ^abRabin, Nathan (April 25, 2007)."Interview with Adam Schlesinger".A.V. Club.Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2008.
  12. ^abDaly, Sean (April 3, 2005)."Songwriter Schlesinger: His Expertise Is Catchy".The Washington Post.
  13. ^"Robots".Yahoo! Movies.Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 4,2008.
  14. ^abKenny, Glenn."The Music — and Lyrics — Man".Premiere.com.Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2007.RetrievedFebruary 4,2008.
  15. ^abCohen, Jonathan."Andy Chase, Dominique Durand and Adam Schlesinger: No Distance Too Far".Nude as the News.Archived fromthe originalon May 11, 2008.
  16. ^"Art School Confidential".Yahoo! Movies.RetrievedFebruary 4,2008.
  17. ^Vancheri, Barbara (February 14, 2007)."Music and Lyrics: Comedy's catchy, but not classic".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 4,2008.
  18. ^Harris, Will (April 5, 2007)."A Chat with Adam Schlesinger".Bullz-Eye.com.
  19. ^Hay, Carla (November 30, 2004)."Harris, Colvin, Finns Whistle 'Dixie'".Billboard.
  20. ^"Orange County".Yahoo! Movies.RetrievedFebruary 4,2008.
  21. ^ab"La Jolla Playhouse Presents Broadway-Bound Cry-Baby"(PDF).La Jolla Playhouse(Press release). September 27, 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 24, 2009.
  22. ^Cry-Babyat theInternet Broadway Database
  23. ^Greene, Andy (February 13, 2014)."Sarah Silverman: 'I'm the Poorest Famous Person in the World'".Rolling Stone.
  24. ^Evans, Greg (May 31, 2019)."Sarah Silverman Musical 'The Bedwetter' Sets Off Broadway Premiere Date".Deadline Hollywood.
  25. ^Putnam, Leah (March 2, 2022)."Bebe Neuwirth, Caissie Levy, Ashley Blanchet, More to Star in Sarah Silverman Musical The Bedwetter".Playbill.RetrievedMay 25,2022.
  26. ^Meyer, Dan (January 8, 2020)."Fran Drescher Working onThe NannyMusical; Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger to Pen Score ".Playbill.RetrievedJune 2,2020.
  27. ^"Motion City Soundtrack: Full Biography".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2006.
  28. ^Cohen, Jonathan (January 17, 2006)."Schlesinger, Iha Producing New America Disc".Billboard.
  29. ^Di Perna, Alan."Adam Schlesinger: Welcome Interstate Musicians".Harp.No. November/December 2004.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^Drees, Rich."That Tune You Do: Writing The Music For That Thing You Do".FilmBuffOnline.Archived fromthe originalon November 27, 2007.
  31. ^Aswad, Jem."Adam Schlesinger: Those Things He Do".The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.Archived fromthe originalon January 17, 2008.
  32. ^"KTVU.com Talks To Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger".KTVU. June 22, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon May 11, 2008.
  33. ^"OutKast leads Grammy nods".CNN. December 4, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2005.
  34. ^"'In the Heights' heads list of Tony nominees ".Today.com. Associated Press. May 13, 2008.
  35. ^Raftery, Brian (July 10, 2011)."Denizens of the Quotidian".New York Magazine.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  36. ^Orloff, Brian (March 8, 2007)."Fountains of Wayne Bassist Welcomes Baby Girl".People.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
  37. ^"Adam Schlesinger, Fountains of Wayne and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' musician, dies of coronavirus at 52".NBC News.April 2020.
  38. ^"Fourth COVID-19 Related Death Confirmed in Dutchess".Dutchess County bulletin.RetrievedMarch 31,2020.
  39. ^Willman, Chris (April 1, 2020)."Adam Schlesinger Dies of Coronavirus Complications at 52".Variety.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  40. ^Aswad, Jem; Willman, Chris (March 31, 2020)."Adam Schlesinger, Fountains of Wayne Co-Founder, Hospitalized with Coronavirus".Variety.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
  41. ^"Saving for a Custom Van, by Various Artists".Father/Daughter Records.RetrievedJuly 3,2020.

External links[edit]

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