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Thank you for supporting the mission of the Great American Songbook Foundation.

The Great American Songbook Foundation preserves artifacts that tell the story of American music, such as the musical arrangements of Andy Williams, costume pieces of Ella Fitzgerald and early drafts of the hit Broadway musical The Music Man. Our Archives team also carefully preserves the career and legacy of our Founder, Michael Feinstein.

Browse this collection of digitized materials from his personal collection, featuring never-before-seen treasures related to his friendship with Songbook Hall of Fame Member Liza Minnelli.

Note: This collection is currently in process of preservation. Please do NOT download, save or share these photos or artifacts in any public capacity.  

About the Collection

Likely one of the most comprehensive collections of an artist housed in the Songbook Archives, the Michael Feinstein Collection was made possible by Michael's mother (and personal archivist), Mazie Feinstein.

Listen to a bit of background on the collection from the founder himself!

A Little Help from My Friends: Liza and Michael

 The long friendship between Michael and Liza Minnelli is often admired by those both in and out of show business. The two met thanks to Michael’s relationship with Ira Gershwin, who was Liza’s godfather. Her father, Vincente Minnelli, would often spend time at Gershwin’s home and make Michael’s acquaintance there. The two became friends, and Vincente introduced Michael to Liza.

In February 1986, Liza, an already accomplished performer, held a party at the Mondrian hotel to celebrate “Michael Feinstein’s Opening.” This show would open doors for Michael, including an invitation to perform at the Algonquin Theatre in New York City, which would launch his career.

The invitation is black cardstock mounted on a shiny gold background. White script covers the card, with one of Liza’s logos gracing the top and her signature “L” at the bottom. It reads as follows:

“Please join me…I’m having a party to celebrate Michael Feinstein’s Opening of the New Café Mondrian

Date: Friday, February 22^nd

Time: 8:00 p.m. Cocktails

9:00 p.m. Show

10:00 p.m. Buffet

Place: Le Mondrian Hotel

8440 Sunset Boulevard

West Hollywood

Dress: Fun ‘n Fancy

Love, L.”

Michael’s scrapbooks are filled with hundreds of photos of him with any variety of performers, but it’s not surprising at all to see photos of Liza and Michael littered throughout. One such image is dated August 26, 1987, and shows a young Michael and Liza together:

“To My first, My last, and My only! :) Yours, LiZa.”

Hailed as “90 minutes of song, dance, and knock-’em-dead pizzazz,” the 1985 Liza in Concert tour highlighted Ms. Minnelli’s range and her love of the Great American Songbook. While performing songs from the Gershwin Brothers, Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, and Cole Porter on the night of November 10, 1985, there was a certain fan and best friend of Liza’s in the audience. Michael Feinstein attended the show at the Dall Texas Reunion Area and sat in Sec. 11, Row D, Seat 13. Besides saving his tickets from the show, Michael also saved his VIP backstage pass for the evening.

A year later in Houston, Michael would join Liza on stage to perform alongside his friend, the two almost matching in tuxedos as Michael played piano while Liza sang from various points on stage.

And the rest is most certainly history.

Enjoy this special episode of In the Archives with Michael Feinstein, in which we hear more about this exclusive collection.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support of our mission! We hope you have enjoyed this glance at Songbook history from the Founder's point of view.