Stars Show Up For Phoebe Snow’s Send Off

Phoebe Snow, the great singer and musician who died last week at age 60, got a great send off today in New York. Among the stars and friends who showed up to pay their respects at Phoebe’s Buddhist ceremony were Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Paul Shaffer, Lesley Gore, actor Bob Balaban and his wife Lynn, May Pang, singers Fonzie Thornton and Janice Pendarvis, legendary record exec Bruce Lundvall, Ellyn Harris and PR maven Melani Rogers, and a host of local musicians who’d played with Phoebe over the years. Former President Bill Clinton sent a message of condolence. Howard Stern couldn’t make the funeral, but came on Sunday night to the wake, as did producer Russ Titelman. Roger Butterley and some musicians who’d toured with Phoebe performed a lovely version of “Poetry Man.” Phoebe’s tour manager and executor, Tony Melfa, helped put it all together and showed a video of Phoebe on “CBS Sunday Morning.” One thing I learned after thirty years: Phoebe was named for the great actress Phoebe Brand, founder of the Group Theater and wife of Shakespearean actor Morris Carnovsky. The Carnovskys were famously blacklisted after director Elia Kazan gave their names to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Thanks to Phoebe’s Uncle Bob for that information, and to her two close friends who spoke so beautifully. Phoebe, RIP.