Scott Schechter, award-winning producer, journalist, author, Minnelli-Garland historian, and developer of Liza’s Web site, OfficialLizaMinnelli.com, died early Friday morning, May 15, of a heart attack. He was 46.
For more than a quarter of a century, Schechter researched the lives of the famous mother and daughter, compiling, in a release last fall (among many others): Liza Minnelli: The Complete A&M Recordings. He was also the author of The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook (Kensington/Citadel Press, 2004), a lavishly illustrated volume, which included a foreword by Billy Stritch. Minnelli said of the work, "All the other books about me are bullshit. This is the one that counts." Schechter’s Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend (Cooper Square Press, 2002, hardcover; Taylor Trade Publishing, 2006, paperback) was called “A paean to Garland’s professionalism and talents” by Liz Smith; The Los Angeles Times stated, “Scott Schechter’s book not only chronicles her difficult life, but also proves how hard she worked to overcome obstacles. . . . Exhaustively researched”; and Robert Osborne of the Hollywood Reporter devoted an entire column to the book, raving, “Almost overwhelming in its detail, Schechter’s research is as thorough as a Nobel scientist. . . . It’s the most complete retrospective yet published on a celebrity.”
Schechter consulted or was interviewed as a Liza Minnelli or Judy Garland authority on shows such as NBC’S Dateline, ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, AMC’s Behind the Screen, and E! Entertainment Television’s True Hollywood Story. The latter, of which Schechter was a consulting producer, was honored with a Gracie Award and nominated for a Prism Award for best TV documentary. E!’s 2002 tribute to Liza Minnelli was named “E!’s True Hollywood Story of the Year.” Scott also contributed to the 2004 A&E Biography on Minnelli.
Schechter’s much-praised liner notes, essays, and CD projects on Minnelli, Garland, and others include, Judy (four CD box set); Judy at Carnegie Hall (complete and uncut); Classic Judy Garland--The Capitol Years (1955-1965); Miss Show Business/Judy and Judy: That’s Entertainment/I could Go On Singing; Judy in Love/Alone; Engelbert Humperdinck: You Belong to My Heart; Liza Minnelli: Ultimate Collection; and The Judy Garland Show: The Show That Got Away.
In 1998 Schechter was one of the people instrumental in bringing Garland’s entire long-lost 1963-1964 TV series, The Judy Garland Show to DVD format.
Schechter’s tribute magazine, Garlands for Judy was begun in 1995 and many know of—and belong to--his Official Liza Minnelli yahoo group (which Liza and her people follow).
We love you Scott. May you rest in peace.
For more than a quarter of a century, Schechter researched the lives of the famous mother and daughter, compiling, in a release last fall (among many others): Liza Minnelli: The Complete A&M Recordings. He was also the author of The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook (Kensington/Citadel Press, 2004), a lavishly illustrated volume, which included a foreword by Billy Stritch. Minnelli said of the work, "All the other books about me are bullshit. This is the one that counts." Schechter’s Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend (Cooper Square Press, 2002, hardcover; Taylor Trade Publishing, 2006, paperback) was called “A paean to Garland’s professionalism and talents” by Liz Smith; The Los Angeles Times stated, “Scott Schechter’s book not only chronicles her difficult life, but also proves how hard she worked to overcome obstacles. . . . Exhaustively researched”; and Robert Osborne of the Hollywood Reporter devoted an entire column to the book, raving, “Almost overwhelming in its detail, Schechter’s research is as thorough as a Nobel scientist. . . . It’s the most complete retrospective yet published on a celebrity.”
Schechter consulted or was interviewed as a Liza Minnelli or Judy Garland authority on shows such as NBC’S Dateline, ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, AMC’s Behind the Screen, and E! Entertainment Television’s True Hollywood Story. The latter, of which Schechter was a consulting producer, was honored with a Gracie Award and nominated for a Prism Award for best TV documentary. E!’s 2002 tribute to Liza Minnelli was named “E!’s True Hollywood Story of the Year.” Scott also contributed to the 2004 A&E Biography on Minnelli.
Schechter’s much-praised liner notes, essays, and CD projects on Minnelli, Garland, and others include, Judy (four CD box set); Judy at Carnegie Hall (complete and uncut); Classic Judy Garland--The Capitol Years (1955-1965); Miss Show Business/Judy and Judy: That’s Entertainment/I could Go On Singing; Judy in Love/Alone; Engelbert Humperdinck: You Belong to My Heart; Liza Minnelli: Ultimate Collection; and The Judy Garland Show: The Show That Got Away.
In 1998 Schechter was one of the people instrumental in bringing Garland’s entire long-lost 1963-1964 TV series, The Judy Garland Show to DVD format.
Schechter’s tribute magazine, Garlands for Judy was begun in 1995 and many know of—and belong to--his Official Liza Minnelli yahoo group (which Liza and her people follow).
We love you Scott. May you rest in peace.
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2 comments:
A minor correction: Scott was born in 1961, and was 48 when he died last week.
Herman M. Schechter
Scott's brother
Dear Herman, thanks for the correction, I am so sad and sorry about Dear Scott. I only met him once and found him to be such a warm and happy guy, I will miss knowing he will not be around to share all his gifts, god bless & love, a friend, Sammy.
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