John Wallowitch (1926-2007) In a New York Times review, Stephen Holden wrote “While Noel Coward is no longer around to set the standards for a certain kind of sophisticated songwriting sensibility, Mr. Wallowitch nimbly carries the torch.” John’s journey to the cabaret/concert/theatre spotlight began at the Juilliard School of Music where his classical training led to his New York debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall, followed by a concert tour of the Continent under the aegis of the United States State Department. His more than 1,000 songs are recorded by or in the repertory of a long list of singers including Joanne Beretta, Tony Bennett, Dixie Carter (who recorded “Dixie Carter Sings John Wallowitch Live at the Cafe Carlyle”), Blossom Dearie, Morgana King, Julius La Rosa, Lynn Lobban, Doc Severinsen, and Margaret Whiting. In 1984 John Wallowitch joined Bertram Ross in a program of arcane American song by the great composers. Their relationship was documented in Wallowitch and Ross: This Moment, a film by Richard Morris.
For TOSOS II, Mark Finley fashioned a very successful revue of John’s songs titled New York Minutes featuring Chris Weikel, Richard Locke and Jolie Meshbesher. Months before his death, Ann Ruckert produced a CD of John singing some of his previously unrecorded songs.