The Music Man

Leslie Bricusse grew up in Pinner in the war years - with a family that'selationship with the theatre was limited to a grandmother who earned aiving scrubbing the front steps of the London Apollo. But for Leslie's lifeas to be a little more privileged and his involvement with the Arts sceneas to be phenomenal. Like most children Leslie turned his modest five byeven bedroom in south west London into a jungle of movie posters and trainets; he detested his weekly piano lessons and can't quite comprehend how hisister got him to attend tap dancing classes. At just six years of age,eslie associated music with the hits of George Gershwin, but his interest inusic was to be put relatively on hold for another six years; till one day heondered down to the West End, on his way home from the public school hettended in Hampstead, and witnessed his first MGM musical: an experiencehat was to change his life. After 2 years National Service and a degreeducation at Cambridge University, Leslie was to become on of the greatestcore writers of all time.;With awards, including Oscars, for both stage and