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Tom Rhea's avatar

An older generation knows about Marni Nixon, who sang parts offscreen behind many of Hollywood's "stars." For example, it's certainly not Natalie Wood singing in "Westside Story," it's Marni Nixon. The list is so long it's now legendary, although Nixon was sworn to secrecy, and threatened with being black-balled if she revealed the secret.

I've heard Wood's actual effort for "Westside Story," and I'm thankful for Marni Nixon . . .

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Chris's avatar

Mr. Gioia, I think you nailed it when you point out that their most heinous crime was making the Grammy voters (and fans) look foolish. For an actual criminal offense one is entitled to a trial, may serve a punishment, can be "rehabilitated". For the wounding of pride there is no such path to forgiveness.

I remember the Milli Vanilli scandal - At that time I was a callow youth, secure in my belief that all pop music was garbage anyway, but I do recall thinking the whole affair was a tempest in a teapot. Years later when Pilatus died it struck me as quite tragic that a young man's life was literally destroyed because the artifice of his short-lived stardom was the WRONG KIND of artifice. His family and friends lost a loved one in the prime of his life, and I suspect that all of the people who orchestrated the charade never lost a minute of sleep over it.

Thank you for this thoughtful essay.

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