Andre Previn

If music is involved, Andre Previn can do it. He was a child prodigy who started his professional career while still in his teens. His hard-hitting, swinging piano style could also lull you with its sensitive touch. His trio (also under drummer Shelly Manne's name) had a monster hit with its jazz version of “My Fair Lady” and started the cottage industry of “jazz does big show” albums. At the same time, Previn was an arranger/composer with MGM and the film version of “My Fair Lady” is only one of his many credits. He also arranged his own jazz piano with orchestra albums for the mood music market. Previn, with a free afternoon or two, wrote songs with his first wife, Dory, before going onto an illustrious career as a classical conductor. We await his hip-hop phase with baited breath.