Composer Stanley Lebowsky Dies; He Went From UCLA to Broadway

Stanley Lebowsky, who began as a composer for campus musicals at UCLA and went on to conduct and write for some of Broadway’s biggest musical hits, including the current smash “Me and My Girl,” has died at age 59.

Lebowsky died of a heart attack Sunday at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City.

He composed many songs, among them “The Wayward Wind,” but probably was best known as the orchestra conductor for “Cats,” “Pippin,” “Chicago,” “The Act,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Half a Sixpence” and “Irma La Douce.”

Lebowsky supervised the music for six companies of “Cats,” and was the composer of the musical “Gantry,” based on the Sinclair Lewis novel “Elmer Gantry.” The show, which starred Robert Shaw, had a short New York run in 1970.

His first professional credit was as music director of “I Love Lydia” at the Players’ Ring Theater in Los Angeles in 1950. From there he led touring companies of “Guys and Dolls,” “Carousel” and “Look Ma I’m Dancing,” and then became pianist for the pre-Broadway tour of “Silk Stockings” in 1954-55.

In 1960, he was named musical director and vocal arranger for “Irma La Douce,” which opened on Broadway that year.

He also was a popular accompanist for such diverse singers as Mary McCarty and Helen Traubel.