Obituary: Glen Roven Dies At 60

By Francisco Salazar

Two-time Emmy Award-winning composer, lyricist, conductor, pianist, and producer Glen Roven has passed away at the age of 60.

Roven was known for his diversity in music having started his career on Broadway as a rehearsal pianist for “Pippin,” while still in high school, and at 19 was the musical director of “Sugar Babies” on Broadway. He would then go on to conduct, write songs and produce for the likes of Julie Andrews, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G., Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, and TRAIN among others. He also went on to conduct Frank Sinatra’s last concert on television and Sammy Davis’s final television appearance, as well as four presidential inaugurations.

He would go on to create and become the artistic director of “Roven Records” for which he produced “Hopes and Dreams,” a CD with Universal and Carnegie Hall based on their Lullaby Project, which included Joyce DiDonato.

He also produced an all-Verdi aria CD for Hui He and SONY, recorded live in Verona and composed “The Hillary Speeches,” a setting of Mrs. Clinton’s speeches performed by opera stars Lawrence Brownlee, Isabel Leonard, Nathan Gunn, Matthew Polenzani, and 26 others which aired around the world on January 20, 2017.

He also co-produced “An AIDS Quilt Songbook: Sing for Hope,” which featured Joyce DiDonato, Jamie Barton, Isabel Leonard, Matthew Polenzani, Susanna Phillips Yo-Yo Ma, Ansel Elgort, Sharon Stone and more.

A funeral service will be held this week in New York City, with a memorial tribute is being planned for the fall.

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