Cy Walter Web Links

One of the reasons why we built this web site was because we noticed the large amount of interest that had been generated on the World Wide Web about Cy Walter, the man and his music. So many web sites paid tribute to him, but no web sites were devoted to him. On this page, we give credit to the web sites that directly or indirectly keep his legacy alive in this new medium. Some of the sites are historical in nature, like the Mabel Mercer Foundation and the Friends of Alec Wilder. Others are personal, like the site of Michael Feinstein whose encouragement and advice has helped launch this site in the first place. All the sites listed here are excellent sources of information for anyone interested in Cy Walter, piano music, the legacy of the New York Cabaret world, or just plain enjoyment of the music. We are hoping that these sites will include www.CyWalter.com on their links pages as well.

Michael Feinstein
Performer and dedicated musical archivist / preservationist / historian Michael Feinstein has been a true catalyst for the Walter family's and Mark Walter's efforts to augment awareness of Cy Walter's musical legacy.  Without his gracious and generous support, this project would not have been realized.

Alex Hassan
An extraordinarily knowledgeable and talented pianist focusing on the novelty piano era of the early decades of the Twentieth Century, Alex has deviated from his chosen path to the extent of having long enjoyed and proselytized Cy's music.  Based in Falls Church, Virginia, Alex performs and records periodically on a world-wide basis; he and his wife, Sara (who plays piano as well), are also collectors of vintage sheet music.  If they do not have it, you are not likely to find it elsewhere! 

Peter Mintun
A noted New York City pianist who has performed at the Carlyle Hotel and elsewhere, Peter is another of the talented musicians who have long admired Cy's music and ensured that others of similar ilk would discover it.  Peter, like Alex Hassan and Michael Feinstein, has an exceptional knowledge of the musical genre and era of which Cy was a part, and by continuning to perform this music has significantly contributed to its ongoing vitality.

Mark Eden Horowitz
Mark, a Senior Music Specialist at the Library of Congress, is not only an expert on Stephen Sondheim's creative processes but a longtime fan of Cy's music (as he modestly suggests, he even attempts to play Cy's compositions -- quite competently, we're sure!).  Mark has provided great encouragement and support to Mark Walter's efforts to ensure that Cy's musical legacy is available to all at the Library, and continues to do so, much to the Walter family's undying gratitude.

Tony Caramia
Piano Professor at the Eastman School of Music, Tony has regularly performed Cy's piano solos in concerts given at the University of Rochester and elsewhere, and recorded them on his CDs as well.  Tony Caramia has also made promoting awareness of Cy and his music a major multimedia project, with an IAJE presentation planned in New York City in early 2007. 

Shellwood Records
The website of "light music maker" Shellwood Productions, headed by executive producer Mike Lorenzini, has produced the first-ever Cy Walter piano solos plus CD -- a gem to be treasured over repeated relistenings!!  And, while stopping off to order a copy of this gem from Shellwood, be sure to examine their unique catalogue of other wonderful recordings; we predict you'll be enjoying others discovered in the process!

Jazz Inspired - Judy Carmichael
Judy Carmichael, a gifted stride pianist, is also the host of a terrific radio show that airs on NPR and Sirrius satellite radio.  This web site offers an archive of past shows that are treasures not to be missed!

Steve Ross
A New York City-based cabaret performer, Steve has long been associated with first-class performances presenting the American Popular Songbook.

Ronny Whyte
Ronny Whyte has been a staple of the New York cabaret scene for several decades, entertaining audiences with his superb piano playing and singing.  Ronny is also an active recording artist whose CDs and albums include many of his own compositions.

Harold Danko
Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Rochester's Eastman School of Music, Harold has long held Cy's music in high regard.

Lars Boye Jensen
Danish pianist and performer of Cy Walter's music.

Richard Glazier
Richard Glazier, award-winning pianist and master storyteller, has recorded Cy's arrangements on CD.

Mabel Mercer Foundation
Donald Smith and Mabel Mercer Foundation Website. The Mabel Mercer Foundation was established after Mabel's passing to ensure that the cabaret musical genre of which she was so critical a part continued as a vibrant entertainment culture.  Under the continuing stewardship of Donald Smith, the Foundation has organized annual week-long Cabaret Conventions for many years at which talented performers may be heard.

Friends of Alec Wilder
An informally organized national organization composed of fans of Alec Wilder's music, this group is dedicated to augmenting awareness of this singular composer's life and work.  Each year a performance focusing on Alec's music is given in New York City by the Friends of Alec Wilder; watch for 2007's, which will be the centennial celebration of Alec's birth.

Johnny Mercer
Website honoring the songwriter Johnny Mercer and cabaret performer and head of the Johnny Mercer Foundation, Margaret Whiting.

Tom Hampson
Longtime Rochester, New York NPR Radio Host who also heads up the "Friends of Alec Wilder" organization.

Marian McPartland
The online home for Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz! Each week NPR's award-winning program showcases both acclaimed artists and up-and-coming performers as they share music and memories with their legendary host, Marian McPartland.

Rich Conaty
WFUV-FM radio show host Rich Conaty, whose "Big Broadcast" has played pre-1950s recorded music for several decades.

Frederick Hodges
A society pianist based in San Francisco, Frederick has long been enamoured of Cy's music.

Marston Records
The website of Ward Marston, noted pianist, performer, and audio engineer, who, in a 9 August 2005 New York Times article (available in full in the Press section of his website), was profiled as follows:  As a former concert pianist turned saloon player, Mr. Marston is a fan of Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Erroll Garner, but he reserves the top spot in his pantheon for Cy Walter, a club pianist of a few years back. "He is my God," Mr. Marston said. He also admires the late Bobby Short, for whom he occasionally substituted at the Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan.

K. T. Sullivan
K. T., a singer accurately described on her site as a "movie-star blonde with a luscious soprano voice and teasing big green eyes", has delighted New York audiences in many a noted venue.  She is most regularly associated with the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

Barbara Carroll
Barbara has long been a vibrant staple of New York's cabaret performers, dazzling audiences with her sophisticated piano and singing.  She regularly appears at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel.

Julie Wilson / City Cabaret
Julie Wilson, an icon of the New York cabaret scene, has awed New Yorkers with her acting and singing for over five decades.  Her ongoing performances continue to exude a youthful enthusiasm and energy that leave audiences spellbound.

Jackie Cain
Best known as the Jackie of "Jackie and Roy", as the colleague of Roy Kral, after Roy's passing Jackie has continued to perform on her own to the delight of audiences lucky enough to hear her.

Gilbert Bowers
Oral History and Research Materials: Gilbert Bowers (includes comments on his performing with Cy).

Mark Randall
Website of Philadelphia pianist Mark Randall, who bills himself as playing in the style of Cy Walter.

Elsie Houston
A website on the singer Elsie Houston, whom Cy accompanied in NYC as part of a two-piano team with Gil Bowers in the late 1930s.

Radio Gold Index
Website of David Goldin, radio historian extraordinaire, with listings of Cy's radio performances (and those of many others).

IMDB Listing of Cy Walter's TV Show
IMDB listing of Cy's television show with Stan Freeman, Judy Lynn, and Martha Wright.

QRS Music Technologies
QRS Music Technologies is the company that produced the Cy Walter piano rolls; Bob Berkman, CEO, graciously recorded the three piano rolls in his private studio.

The Vitaphone Project
Ron Hutchinson and his talented colleagues have spent countless hours in an ongoing and fruitful effort to preserve the Vitaphone genre of early film and sound production.  What exactly is "Vitaphone"?  Check out this website to learn.

Warren Trachtman
Warren is a Falls Church, Virginia-based pianist, ragtime enthusiast, and web site host, has long made a project out of preserving, in midi-file format, the piano rolls of yesterday.  In this regard, Warren's transfer of Cy's QRS piano rolls may be enjoyed on the "Piano Rolls" portion of this site.