Musical Artist - Holmes, Rupert

Rupert Holmes is an English-American singer, songwriter, and playwright best known for the 1979 hit Escape (The Piña Colada Song). Born David Goldstein in Northwich, Cheshire, England, Holmes and his family moved to New York when he was six, he eventually attended the Manhattan School of Music before embarking on a career as a session musician.

Holmes had his first taste of success when he wrote the somewhat controversial cannibal themed song Timothy and recorded it with the Cuff Links in 1970. Over the next decade, Holmes wrote commercial jingles and songs for other artists including Gene Pitney, the Platters, the Drifters, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Barry Manilow, and the Partridge Family.

In 1974, Barbra Streisand heard his album Widescreen and asked to record songs from it for herself, eventually using some of them in the movie A Star Is Born. This led to a long and productive collaboration between Streisand and Holmes in which he arranged, conducted, and wrote songs with her for six albums. Holmes' career as a recording artist peaked in 1979 when he released the album Partners in Crime featuring the hit singles Escape (The Piña Colada Song), Him, and Answering Machine.

In addition to his career as a musician, Holmes is a successful playwright, having written the plays Drood (for which he won a Tony Award), Curtains, and Say Goodnight, Gracie. He also provided the book for musical adaptations of The First Wives Club, Robin and the 7 Hoods, and The Nutty Professor. In addition, he adapted Grisham's novel A Time to Kill for the stage.

Holmes has a website named Rupert Holmes.

Musical Monday Selections:

06/04/18: Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

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