Artist:Michael Crawford
Song:The Music of the Night
Album:The Ultimate Collection
British actor Michael Crawford is best known for playing the title character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera. He also appeared in the 1969 film Hello, Dolly! and in the 70s British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. But he is mainly known for The Phantom. He was born Michael Patrick Smith Jan. 19, 1942 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He was raised by his mother and her parents. Her husband died during The Battle of Britain in 1940. Crawford was the result of a subsequent short lived relationship and she gave the child her married name. They moved in with her parents on the Isle of Shippey near Kent. She remarried after WWII and moved to London. He started to appear on stage in school. He was known as Michael Ingram. His stepfather was named Ingram. While appearing in a production for the English Opera Group in 1958, Crawford decided to be an actor. He changed his name to Michael Crawford to avoid confusion with a newsman named Michael Ingram. He appeared in a variety of stage and TV shows. His first film was the 1962 film The War Lover starring Steve McQueen followed by the 1963 film Two Left Feet. His appearance in the TV comedy show Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life got the attention of director Richard Lester (A Hard Day's Night) who cast him in the 1965 film The Knack...and How to Get It followed by the 1966 film adaptation of the Broadway musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the 1967 films How I Won the War and The Joker. Then Crawford made his Broadway debut in the 1967 show Black Comedy with Lynn Redgrave. Gene Kelly spotted him and cast him in the 1969 film of the musical Hello, Dolly!. That film was generally considered to be a failure at the time. Crawford's career stalled and he returned to England. After appearing in the stage comedy No Sex Please, We're British, Crawford was cast as Frank Spencer in the sitcom Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em after Ronnie Barker and Norman Wisdom both turned it down. The show was very popular in England but it only lasted two seasons because show creator Raymond Allen chose to end it. But it led to opportunities for Crawford like the musical Billy based on Billy Liar and the 1981 film Condorman. That was followed by the 1981 musical Barnum as P.T. Barnum. And that's when The Phantom of the Opera came up. Andrew Lloyd Webber was developing the show as a vehicle for his wife Sarah Brightman. He showed Crawford a pitch video featuring Sarah and Cockney Rebal lead singer Steve Harley. Crawford didn't like it as being too "rock opera". But Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh were having second thoughts about Harley and replaced him with Crawford. Of course The Phantom of the Opera was a huge success not only in London but also on Broadway. Crawford won an Olivier and a Tony. He left the show in 1990 but he has returned to the role several times. This 2CD budget comp covers Crawford's entire career. It was sold on TV in England. He has appeared in other shows like as Professor Marvel in the 2011 revival of the musical The Wizard of Oz. But Michael Crawford will always be remembered for The Phantom of the Opera. He hasn't appeared anywhere lately but he's not retired. He recently announced plans to produce a documentary about his career. Here's the video for The Music of the Night by Michael Crawford.
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