Win Two Tickets to MusiCares where Barbra Streisand will be honored as Person of the Year.

1. HOW TO ENTER: Go to www.Crowdrise.com (the “Website”) and follow the on-screen instructions to a) Join Barbra Streisand’s “Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center” project team on Crowdrise (http://www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand/fundraiser/barbra) and b) Raise the most money for your project on Crowdrise from January 13, 2011 at 10:00am eastern time to February 7, 2011 at 11:59pm eastern time on Crowdrise (minimum amount to raise: $500.00) and you will win two tickets to MusiCares where Barbra Streisand will be honored as person of the year. Donations must be made online through Crowdrise. Offline donations do not count.

2. SELECTION OF WINNERS: The fundraiser who raised the most money for Barbra Streisand’s “Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center” project (http://www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand/fundraiser/barbra) on Crowdrise will be selected as the winner (minimum amount raised needs to be $500.00). Only online donations can be made to your project. Offline donations do not count. The winner announcement will be held on February 8, 2011. The Drawing will be conducted by representatives of Sponsor whose decisions are final on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Winners will be notified by email at the email address assigned to their Crowdrise account on or about one (1) day after the date of the Drawing.

Stars To Honor Barbra Streisand at Musicares Event

Jeff Beck, LeAnn Rimes, Seal, and BeBe Winans added to performance lineup for GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute. 

Current GRAMMY nominees Jeff Beck and LeAnn Rimes, and GRAMMY winners Seal and BeBe Winans are the latest performers announced for the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Barbra Streisand, to be held during GRAMMY Week on Feb. 11 in Los Angeles. They join previously announced performers Tony Bennett; singer/actress Kristin Chenoweth; GRAMMY-nominated "Glee" cast members Darren Criss, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison; Herbie Hancock; Diana Krall; Barry Manilow; Donna Summer; Stevie Wonder; and singer Nikki Yanofsky. Streisand, an eight-time GRAMMY-winning artist and current nominee, will close the evening with her own special performance. Additional performers will be announced soon.
Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute, now in its 21st year, provide essential support for MusiCares.

The event, a private charity fundraiser, is attended by industry VIPs and others who help support the work of The Recording Academy-affiliated MusiCares Foundation, which offers programs and services to members of the music community, including emergency financial assistance. The MusiCares MAP Fund provides access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community regardless of their financial circumstances, and MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows, such as the GRAMMY Awards, and other major music events.

The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The celebration culminates with the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/PT. For information on purchasing tables and tickets to the event, please contact Dana Tomarken at 310.392.3777.
Past MusiCares Person of the Year honorees include Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, David Crosby, Neil Diamond, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Luciano Pavarotti, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Sting, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.

Interview: Barbra Streisand's Change of Heart

What the famous singer, actor, and director is doing to change the state of women's heart health.

WebMD the Magazine - Feature.

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

On screen, Barbra Streisand's newest role as therapist Rozalin Focker (seen in Little Fockers, which opened in late December 2010) alongside Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, and Dustin Hoffman, shows just how in tune the legendary performer is with matters of the heart.
But in real life, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor, director, and singer takes her commitment to a whole new level with her highly public role helping to raise funds for research at Cedars-Sinai's Women's Heart Center in Los Angeles. Recently, the eight-time Grammy Award winner wrote out these answers in response to WebMD's questions about why she's pulling out all the stops to transform women's cardiac health.


Q: Of all the important health issues to champion, what inspired you to advocate for women's heart health?
A: I have always been an advocate of women's issues working with my foundation, and I have been outspoken on issues of gender inequality throughout my career. When I discovered that gender inequality still exists in the medical sciences when it comes to research and treatment of heart disease, I was stunned. Given that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in our country, more than all cancers combined, I knew I had to get involved to make a difference.


Q: How are you personally helping transform women's heart health?
A: I have committed to raise $10 million, and I will match up to $5 million of it. These funds will be dedicated for research, treatment, and education on women's
heart health. In addition to raising money, it's also imperative to raise awareness about this issue.
To really engage people around the country, we launched an Internet fundraising campaign with a company called Crowdrise, a new online fundraising community that unites people to raise money and volunteers for important causes. I have never done anything like this before, but we have asked people to donate whatever they can -- $10, $20, $50 -- to crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand. The outpouring of generosity has been wonderful and inspiring to see. We still have a lot of money left to raise, but the early response has been very positive.


Q: Why did you choose to work with Cedars-Sinai's heart center?
A: Although there are other institutions around the country doing gender-specific work in the area of heart disease, the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai is among the few places leading the way in this effort. Also, the center is led by the brilliant and accomplished C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, who has received numerous awards recognizing her as one of the field's leading experts on preventive cardiology, women's heart disease, and mental stress.
It made sense for me to focus my time and resources at Cedars given that this work was being conducted right in my own backyard at one of the premier hospitals in the country. And the research outcomes conducted by Dr. Merz and her team will help women all over the world.


Q: Do you have a personal connection to a woman with heart disease?
A: I have had both close friends and family members impacted by heart disease. Sadly, I think most people have had someone in their lives who has suffered a heart attack and/or has all the risk factors for cardio-vascular disease.


Q: What's the No. 1 thing you wish women knew about heart health?
A: I want women to know that their hearts are physiologically different from men's and that heart disease in women doesn't always present the same as heart disease in men. Women need -- and deserve -- heart care specific to female hearts. Women with heart problems need cardiovascular screening, risk assessment, and diagnostic testing designed for women. Otherwise, they can be misdiagnosed, which could lead to disastrous consequences.


Q: How is heart disease different in women than in men?
A: Women having a heart attack don't always experience what men usually do -- chest pain associated with exertion. Instead, they may feel chest pressure, indigestion, shortness of breath, or fatigue. For these reasons, the need for gender-specific treatment is obvious and urgent.


Q: In your opinion, why are more women developing heart disease?
A: Today, more women are taking on the stresses of juggling household demands, of being wife, mother, and breadwinner. These modern-day strains add to higher blood pressure, lack of physical activity, quick and unhealthy food choices, and weight gain -- all major contributors to heart disease.
In addition, even though women have broken through some of the hardest glass ceilings, for decades, most heart disease research was done on men.
So, despite the best intentions of the medical community, women with heart disease have often been diagnosed and treated based on research outcomes done mostly on male patients.
Unfortunately, those approaches don't always work for women. And women need to be better educated about recognizing the risk factors for heart disease and how to prevent it. They need to take control of their own heart health by making it a priority to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, eat heart-healthy foods, and reduce stress. Gender-specific heart care and lifestyle changes have the potential to decrease the number of women afflicted with this life-threatening disease.


Q: How would you most like to see women's cardiovascular care change over the next 10 years?
A: I want to see women-centric cardiovascular health care, education, and research become the norm rather than the exception. We need to continue to explore women's heart disease from every angle, looking at risk factors and effective treatments across predetermined biological tendencies, demographics, and lifestyle choices. And we need to concentrate our research efforts where they'll have the most impact -- less invasive approaches to early detection and monitoring, advancements in treating small artery dysfunction, identification of gender-specific genes and proteins that may influence the risk of heart disease, clinical trials of promising new drugs, and lifestyle choices that can have a positive impact.
Through my association with Cedars-Sinai's Women's Heart Center, I've come to know what needs to be done. They're doing it, and I'm supporting them as they shape the future of women's heart care through their innovative work. If you are interested in getting involved and learning more, please visit: http://www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand.

Taken from: http://women.webmd.com/features/barbra-streisand-change-of-heart

Join Barbra in Supporting the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center

This holiday season, more than one woman treated by the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center is celebrating with her family because our gender-specific heart care saves lives.

Without the generous support of Barbra Streisand and other forward-thinking donors, we would not be privileged to make this statement. Because Barbra and many others believe in our work, we have made great progress in understanding how women’s hearts are different from men’s and treating women accordingly. But we have more knowledge to gain and more hearts to heal.

As 2010 draws to a close, I am once again asking for your support of Barbra’s most recent initiative on our behalf: her partnership with Crowdrise, an online fundraising community that unites people to raise money for causes they believe in. Over $100,000 has been raised for the Women’s Heart Center through Crowdrise, but more support is needed to meet Barbra’s goal of $250,000.

To those of you who have already given, thank you. If you have not yet had a chance to learn about Barbra’s Crowdrise project, please take a moment to visit www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand and consider joining her to defeat women’s heart disease. While you are there, look for the instructions for downloading a new mobile application that provides valuable information on heart disease in women and on ways to stay heart healthy.
Barbra says, “It gives me hope to know that the Women’s Heart Center is here for women.” We are here, and we want to continue to do the research and provide the education and treatment that will help women everywhere win against heart disease.

Again, my sincerest thanks to all of you, and I wish you and your family and friends a healthy and prosperous 2011.

Warm regards,
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC, FAHA
Medical Director, Women’s Heart Center
Women’s Guild Endowed Chair in Women’s Health
Director, Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center
Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute

New TV Interviews

Barbra will be doing some TV Interviews this week - and we thought you'd like to know:

Good Morning America - Wednesday 15 December - 8am ET/PT
Larry King - Wednesday 15 December - 6pm / 9pm / 12am PT
Nightline - Wednesday 15 December - 11.35pm PT

Harpers Bazaar. Barbra's Dream House Photo Shoot

"Instead of just storing my things in the basement, I can make a street of shops and display them," Streisand says. See the images from the her home here and then see the profile on the diva and her decor as well as the Jennifer Aniston as Barbra cover story.

A French chaise in the Antique Clothes Shop.

A table for wrapping gifts:

The Antique Shop showcases Streisand’s treasures:

Streisand's street of shops:

The doll shop:

Another sign from Streisand's street of shops.

Streisand wore the velvet cape to meet the queen of England.

Fashion moment: A Cecil Beaton costume from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

A life-size mannequin in the Antique Clothes Shop:

Part of Streisand's antique shoe collection:

The view from outside Streisand's doll shop:

Welcome to the doll house: Streisand shows off her collection. Shrug, $1,950, and gown, $8,815, Roberto Cavalli. robertocavalli .com. Hair (this page): Soonie Paik at Bruno & Soonie Salon:

With her antique dresses. Gown, $4,335, Alberta Ferretti. 310-652-9000. Shawl, Streisand’s own:

Portrait of the artist. Gown, $6,200, Monique Lhuillier. Bergdorf Goodman; 212-753-7300. Stole, Streisand’s own:

Awards season: Streisand and some of her accolades in the den. Gown, $4,295, Les Habitudes. 310-273-2883. Shoes, Streisand’s own. Hair: Chris McMillan for Chris McMillan Salon; makeup: Pati Dubroff; manicure: Lorri Keefer-Smith; production: Joy Asbury Productions; set design: Rick Floyd.

Barbra's First Book Debuts on New York Times Book List.

BARBRA STREISAND'S FIRST BOOK, "MY PASSION FOR DESIGN,"
DEBUTS AT #2 ON NEW YORK TIMES "ADVICE, HOW-TO & MISCELLANEOUS LIST"

Barbra Streisand's first venture as an author and photographer, "My Passion For Design," has entered the New York Times bestseller book lists in its first week of publication, registering as Number Two on the Advice, How-To and Misc. list. It is a significant achievement in consideration of the fact that, at a price of $60, it is the most expensive book on the list, according to the volume's publisher, Viking, a member of the Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The book explores the lifelong passion for design which has motivated the iconic actress, singer, director, screenwriter, composer, producer, designer and now author and photographer, illustrated by the thirteen year process of her personal creation of a dream house barn on her estate in Malibu. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Barbra Streisand details love of design in new book

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's not exactly opening your home to guests at a holiday party, but for film and singing star Barbra Streisand and her fans, it's pretty close.

This week Streisand has seen her first book land in stores, but it's no memoir of star turns in films such as "Funny Girl" or "The Way We Were," nor does it recount the making of albums that have sold over 71 million copies.

For her debut as an author, Streisand has instead written about her love of architecture, art, furniture and landscaping in "My Passion for Design." But don't be fooled by its title because within the pages, the star tells tales from her life and career that influenced the choices she made in designing her dream home in Malibu, California.

"I think it makes it more interesting," she told Reuters about the book's first-person style. "People have been asking me to write my autobiography, but I don't want to go there yet and be that personal. I guess it crept into my own writing."

"This is how I see the world now, and what is beautiful to me," she added.

The coffee table book from Viking publishers takes readers on Streisand's years-long journey planning, building and furnishing the compound that resembles a 19th century New England farm with a barn, mill house, main house, Grandma's house and even a chicken coop.

It is not the first house the singer has designed for herself. In fact, it follows several others including an Art Deco-themed house, and her New York City apartments. But it is the home in which Streisand and her husband James Brolin spend most all their time and it is, in a word, rather comfy.

Adding to the book's personal touches, avid photographer Streisand took most all the pictures herself.

GAMBLING IN BED

In the introduction, readers learn Streisand likes to spend her mornings in bed, with her dog Samantha at her feet. It is there that she writes, reads, eats and even trades stocks.

"It's a way of gambling without having to get dressed," Streisand writes.

She said she doesn't know exactly from where she derived her love of architecture and design, but adds it certainly wasn't from her mother, who covered their furniture in plastic when she was a child to keep it from getting damaged. In Streisand's Malibu home, nothing is sheathed.

The book is divided into separate sections covering the different structures within the compound. She starts in the chicken coop, where she houses hens who lay eggs, and she covers the gardens where she grows her own vegetables.

Her "barn" is a home, really -- no stalls for livestock -- but Streisand is quick to point out that she doesn't live there. The main house is her home. "Building the barn was like completing an art project," she writes.

The design styles span roughly three centuries, from the 18th through the 20th, but the common theme is a love of Americana. There is her "Federal Lounge," that looks like a townhouse in Washington, D.C., her "Bee's Doll Shop," which houses her doll collection, and the Antique Clothes Shop, which shows off her love of vintage clothing.

"It represents all the different parts of my personality," she said of the rooms and their various styles.

In addition to design, Streisand also has a passion for raising money to help fund research for heart disease in women, which she said has impacted her own family. She recently launched a $10 million fund-raising effort benefiting the Women's Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. More information can be found at www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant)

Up The Sandbox Director Dies. Barbra comments.

Irvin Kershner, filmmaker, photographer, and mentor to many younger Hollywood filmmakers, died at his home in Los Angeles November 27 after a three and a half year battle with lung cancer.  He was 87. Best known for directing “The Empire Strikes Back,” the 1980 landmark sequel to George Lucas’s original Star Wars film, he had a career in film and television that spanned forty years.


Barbra Streisand, a friend of nearly forty years, remarked, “He had the most incredible spirit, an exuberance for life.  Always working, always thinking, always writing, amazingly gifted and forever curious.  We met doing ‘Up The Sandbox’ in 1972 and remained friends ever since.  I loved him.”

Press Piece: Barbra Details Love of Design in New Book

By Bob Tourtellotte
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's not exactly opening your home to guests at a holiday party, but for film and singing star Barbra Streisand and her fans, it's pretty close.
This week Streisand has seen her first book land in stores, but it's no memoir of star turns in films such as "Funny Girl" or "The Way We Were," nor does it recount the making of albums that have sold over 71 million copies.
For her debut as an author, Streisand has instead written about her love of architecture, art, furniture and landscaping in "My Passion for Design." But don't be fooled by its title because within the pages, the star tells tales from her life and career that influenced the choices she made in designing her dream home in Malibu, California.
"I think it makes it more interesting," she told Reuters about the book's first-person style. "People have been asking me to write my autobiography, but I don't want to go there yet and be that personal. I guess it crept into my own writing."
"This is how I see the world now, and what is beautiful to me," she added.
The coffee table book from Viking publishers takes readers on Streisand's years-long journey planning, building and furnishing the compound that resembles a 19th century New England farm with a barn, mill house, main house, Grandma's house and even a chicken coop.
It is not the first house the singer has designed for herself. In fact, it follows several others including an Art Deco-themed house, and her New York City apartments. But it is the home in which Streisand and her husband James Brolin spend most all their time and it is, in a word, rather comfy.
Adding to the book's personal touches, avid photographer Streisand took most all the pictures herself.
GAMBLING IN BED
In the introduction, readers learn Streisand likes to spend her mornings in bed, with her dog Samantha at her feet. It is there that she writes, reads, eats and even trades stocks.
"It's a way of gambling without having to get dressed," Streisand writes.
She said she doesn't know exactly from where she derived her love of architecture and design, but adds it certainly wasn't from her mother, who covered their furniture in plastic when she was a child to keep it from getting damaged. In Streisand's Malibu home, nothing is sheathed.
The book is divided into separate sections covering the different structures within the compound. She starts in the chicken coop, where she houses hens who lay eggs, and she covers the gardens where she grows her own vegetables.
Her "barn" is a home, really -- no stalls for livestock -- but Streisand is quick to point out that she doesn't live there. The main house is her home. "Building the barn was like completing an art project," she writes.
The design styles span roughly three centuries, from the 18th through the 20th, but the common theme is a love of Americana. There is her "Federal Lounge," that looks like a townhouse in Washington, D.C., her "Bee's Doll Shop," which houses her doll collection, and the Antique Clothes Shop, which shows off her love of vintage clothing.
"It represents all the different parts of my personality," she said of the rooms and their various styles.
In addition to design, Streisand also has a passion for raising money to help fund research for heart disease in women, which she said has impacted her own family. She recently launched a $10 million fund-raising effort benefiting the Women's Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. More information can be found at www.crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant)
© Copyright 2010 Reuters

BARBRA STREISAND'S FIRST BOOK, "MY PASSION FOR DESIGN," DEBUTS AT #2 ON NEW YORK TIMES "ADVICE, HOW-TO & MISCELLANEOUS LIST"

            Barbra Streisand's first venture as an author and photographer, "My Passion For Design," has entered the New York Times bestseller book lists in its first week of publication, registering as Number Two on the Advice, How-To and Misc. list.  It is a significant achievement in consideration of the fact that, at a price of $60, it is the most expensive book on the list, according to the volume's publisher, Viking, a member of the Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

            The book explores the lifelong passion for design which has motivated the iconic actress, singer, director, screenwriter, composer, producer, designer and now author and photographer, illustrated by the thirteen year process of her personal creation of a dream house barn on her estate in Malibu. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Barbra Attends Opening of "The National Museum of American Jewish History".

The stars were aligned Saturday when the National Museum of American Jewish History held a glittering opening celebration of its new $150 million museum on Independence Mall. Among the 1,000 guests attending the black-tie gala were Barbra Streisand, one of 18 Jewish Americans honored in an "Only in America" display, and her husband, James Brolin.

Upcoming Press for November 2010.

Oprah - 11/16

 

People / Feature Interview / on stands 11/18

 

Harper’s Bazaar / Feature interview, December issue on stands 11/23

Ladies’ Home Journal / Q&A, December/January issue on stands 11/22-1/10/11

House Beautiful / December issue on stands 11/23

Barbra on Oprah

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME BARBRA STREISAND EXTRAVAGANZA!

A historic television moment: Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford reunite! Plus, intimate secrets from her leading men and a private tour of her dream home.

TUNE in on NOVEMBER 16, 2010 to watch the show.

(c) 2010 Harpo Productions, Inc./All Rights Reserved./Photographer: George Burns.

Barbra contributes to The Shriver Report.

The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes On Alzheimer's — A Groundbreaking Look At This Mind-Blowing Disease And Its Effect On Women As Patients, Caregivers, And Advocates.

Barbra's mother, who died in 2002, suffered from Alzheimers, so this is very close to Barbra's heart.



Links:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Shriver-Report-A-Woman's-Nation-Takes-On/Maria-Shriver/9781451628999

http://www.alz.org/shriverreport/index.html

New Behind-The-Scenes LITTLE FOCKERS Trailer.

Universal Pictures have released a new 'Behind the Scenes' video from Little Fockers.

The featurette runs for just over 2 minutes 30 seconds and includes new footage of Barbra as Roz Focker in the movie -- along with brief interview footage, and a first glimpse of Barbra and Dustin Hoffman together again on screen!

 

Enjoy:

 

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/littlefockers/

 

(The featurette is viewable by clicking on the above link, and then clicking 'Watch Now' in the blue tab at the top left hand side of the screen).

My Passion For Design Deluxe Limited Edition (Leather Bound)

Coming this November.

A Special Deluxe Limited Edition of My Passion for Design by Barbra Streisand.

The long-awaited first book from the inimitable Barbra Streisand is also available as a special deluxe edition in a limited print run of 500 copies. Each numbered and signed copy of this illustrated personal tour of the great star’s homes and collections comes individually boxed and with a beautiful DVD, making My Passion for Design Special Edition the ultimate collector’s item for the true Streisand fan. 

• Hardcover book in individual cloth-covered box
• Signed and numbered
• Includes a DVD tour with narration by Ms. Streisand
$500.00 ($550.00 CAN)
ISBN 978-0-670-02286-1
On sale 11/24/2010 Viking

Click here to pre-order and save 29%

Barbra in New York!

USA - 5th Important Dinner for Women

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Deborra-Lee Jackman, Donna Karan, Barbra Streisand and Glenda Bailey attend the 5th annual Important Dinner for Women hosted by HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Wendi Murdoch and Indra Nooyi in order to achieve the millennium development goal for girls and woman at the Mandarin Oriental, New York on September 20, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Amy Sussman).

Playbill.com Article on Marty Erlichman.

By Blake Ross -- Playbill.com

Many moons ago, when I was first getting started in PR, I was given the chance of a lifetime when my former boss, PR honcho Ken Sunshine, said five little words that would change me forever: “You wanna work for Streisand?”

Wanna? Do I “wanna” work for the greatest living legend in all of showbiz? Now, that was a dumb question.

“Ummm…yeah!” I said.

“Good. Be on a call in ten minutes. It’s with Marty,” he warned, “and let me do the talking.” A fair warning — I am of the loquacious variety (to say the least).

I hadn’t yet met Marty but, like Cher and Madonna, no last name was required. I knew who “Marty” was — he was, and still is, Barbra’s manager. And if Marty Erlichman don’t like you — you ain’t working with Barbra. So I knew I had to be on my best behavior.

I remember Ken’s introduction on that faithful call: “Marty, this is Blake. She’ll be helping with tour stuff.” (Mind you, this was in 2006 when we were launching Barbra’s first multi-city national tour in over a decade). I followed orders to be say little and muttered a swift “Hello.”

“How are you? It’s nice to meet you, Blake. How long have you been working for Kenny?” Marty responded warmly. “Fine. A few years.” (Again, keeping it short and sweet.) But Marty would hear nothing of it. He engaged me in a short banter about growing up in New York and other assorted chit chat. He ended our conversation with, “So Blake, are you ready?” I answered “yes” even though I knew the answer was more like “maybe.”

From that phone call, I embarked on what would be a few of the most exciting years of my life working and learning from Marty, Barbra and the rest of the team. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard work, but well worth it. After a tough day at the “office” (whatever venue we played that night) Marty would hold court at the hotel bar, buying everyone drinks, regaling us with backstage stories from his years in show biz.

This past weekend, Barbra threw Marty a party at her Malibu home to celebrate his 80th (well, really 81st) birthday and their upcoming 50-year relationship as manager and star, friends and confidants. Barbra’s gift to Marty? A Mercedes hybrid.

Friends including Don Rickles, Michael Eisner, George Foreman, Clive Davis and others were there, all sharing stories about the man of the hour. Marty’s family, wife Miko and son JJ, were also present.

Barbra gave a performance of Ray Noble’s “The Very Thought of You” commenting that he “always wanted me to record [it], but I just never did.” She then sang a special impromptu version of “The Way We Were” with none other than Marvin Hamlisch accompanying her. She and the song’s original co-writers Alan and Marilyn Bergman had some fun with the lyrics:

“Marty,

With your dwindling role o’dimes,
Making deals and making phone calls, (a reference to Marty’s first office–a phone booth on 53rd and 7th Ave and calls only cost a dime)
You knew that there’d be better times!
You booked and then you, would check the venue
I only checked the menu
That’s the way we were!”
In his signature style, Marty made a quick comment about the affair: “What an evening. There are five lawyers, three agents, three promoters and no doctors.” He addressed the 100 people in attendance to say: “You know I still love it… I wake up every morning and attack each day.”

Happy Birthday, Marty. Here’s to many more!

Josh Brolin on Barbra.

On his dad's marriage to Barbra Streisand: "The fact that he got together with her and found this solace is such a coup and so wonderful. The guy was so frigging unhappy and lonely. She's always like, 'Come over. We'll have cake or cocktails or soup or ice cream.' I love her and I love what they've created together. I say thank God for her. I grew up with country and western, not her music, so I think she loved it when I said, 'So you're a singer, huh?' When she invited me to her first concert in more than 20 years and she opened her mouth, it was unearthly, from a different galaxy, like Billie Holiday, like Sarah Vaughan."

Barbra throws 81st Birthday Bash for Marty Erlichman.

On Saturday night, September 11, 2010 Barbra Streisand hosted a party at her Malibu home to celebrate the birthday of her long-time manager, Marty Erlichman and the pair's 50 years of working together.

Originally scheduled to take place last year for Erlichman's 80th Birthday, the party was delayed when the two got busy with Streisand's top of the charts release of Love is the Answer and her performance at New York's Village Vanguard and was instead celebrated the night before his 81st birthday.

Read more:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Barbra_Streisand_Marty_Erlichman_Celebrate_50_Years_Together_20100915#ixzz0zhpGL0rW

Cover Art for New European Hits Package.

The Ultimate Collection - The Deluxe Edition is in a beautiful gifting clamshell box. Inside the clamshell is 4 beautifully designed images of Barbra Streisand which she has cleared exclusively for this product.

Click here to Pre-order this special album now.

MEET THE FOCKERS COMING TO BLU-RAY NOVEMBER 30

Universal Home Video will release MEET THE FOCKERS on Blu-ray this November 30th.

This will be Barbra's second movie to be released in High Definition. The disc will also feature English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (for all you 'technicological' * people)

Extras:

• Bloopers

• Inside The Litter Box: Behind-The-Scenes With Jinx The Cat

• The Manary Gland

• Fockers' Family Portrait

• The Adventures Of A Baby Wrangler

• Matt Lauer Meets The Fockers

• Feature Commentary With Director Jay Roach and Editor/Co-Producer Jon Poll

• Pocket BLU

• Social BLU
 
*If you don't get my joke -- watch 'The Making of the Broadway Album' DVD!!
 
Click here to PRE-ORDER.

New UK Album Coming October.

SONY SETS STREISAND “ULTIMATE COLLECTION” CD FOR INTERNATIONAL RELEASE OCTOBER 25
Following powerful sales of Barbra Streisand’s most recent album, “Love Is The Answer,” a number one hit in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom and with high rankings in virtually all other countries, Sony will release “Barbra – The Ultimate Collection” for international release October 25. The new CD will comprise 18 of the artist’s greatest recordings. The selections are drawn from hits that over half a century have become classics transcending all borders.
Included in the “Ultimate” track list are: Woman In Love , Evergreen, The Way We Were, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Guilty, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough,) Don’t Rain On My Parade, Memory, Papa, Can you Hear Me?, As If We Never Said Goodbye, Tell Him, Stranger In A Strange Land, I've Dreamed Of You, Send In The Clowns, People, Smile, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning and Somewhere.

Barbra Streisand's career has been marked by bold creative achievements and highlighted by a series of firsts. An unparalleled talent, Streisand is the only artist ever to receive Oscar®, Tony®, Emmy®, GRAMMY, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globe®, National Medal of Arts, and Peabody awards, as well as France's Legion d'Honneur and the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the first female film director to receive the Kennedy Center Honors and next February will be honoured with the MusiCares Person Of The Year award.

Streisand is the only performer to have a No. 1 album in five consecutive decades. She earned 51 gold, 30 platinum and 18 multi-platinum albums, each of which exceeds all other female singers, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA also notes that her 71.5 million album sales top the RIAA list of album sales by a female singer. With the debut of Love Is The Answer at No. 1 in 2009, the time span between her first and most recent No. 1 albums is 46 years — exceeding that of any other performer.

Tracklisting:

1. Woman In Love

2. Evergreen

3. The Way We Were

4. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

5. Guilty

6. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)

7. Don’t Rain On My Parade

8. Memory

9. Papa, Can you Hear Me?

10. As If We Never Said Goodbye

11. Tell Him

12. Stranger In A Strange Land

13. I’ve Dreamed Of You

14. Send In The Clowns

15. People

16. Smile

17. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

18. Somewhere

Barbra Attends 'Women Making History' Luncheon.

Barbra Streisand receives an Award at The Women Making History luncheon. Senator Boxer presented the award to Barbra and to Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Behind-the-Scenes Photo of Barbra in Little Fockers.

With Colin Baiocchi who plays 'Little Focker' Henry Focker in the movie, due in theaters this Christmas.

Pre-order My Passion For Design.

Barbra's new book will be released in November. Here's a few sneak peeks at the book.

 

Click here to Pre-order this book now.

A lavishly illustrated personal tour of the great star's homes and collections.
For nearly five decades Barbra Streisand has been one of the singular figures in American entertainment. From the cabaret to the Broadway stage, from television and film stardom to her acclaimed work as a director, from the recording studio to the concert hall, she has demonstrated that the extraordinary voice that launched her career was only one of her remarkable gifts.

Now, in her first book, Barbra Streisand reveals another aspect of her talent: the taste and style that have inspired her beautiful homes and collections.
 
My Passion for Design focuses on the architecture and construction of her newest homes, the dream refuge that she has longed for since the days when she shared a small Brooklyn apartment with her mother, brother, and grandparents.
 
A culmination and reflection of Streisand's love of American architecture and design between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, the book contains many of her own photographs of the rooms she has decorated, the furniture and art she has collected, and the ravishing gardens she has planted on her land on the California coast.
 
In addition to glimpses of her homes, Barbra shares memories of her childhood, the development of her sense of style, and what collecting has come to mean to her. My Passion for Design is a rare and intimate private tour into the world of one of our most beloved stars. It will be welcomed by her many fans and all lovers of the great achievements of American design.

Click here to Pre-order this book now.

Barbra Attends Barbara Boxer Fundraiser.

Barbra attended a Barbara Boxer fundraiser on Thursday afternoon at the Bel Air home of “Bold and the Beautiful” executive producer Bradley Bell and his wife, Colleen.

In addition to Barbra, the “Women Making History” luncheon honored Boxer’s partner in the Senate, Dianne Feinstein, and Latino civil rights activist Antonia Hernandez.

(Source: Politico.com)

New International Trailer for LITTLE FOCKERS.

Barbra Attends Cedars-Sinai Benefit

Bloomingdale's opened in Santa Monica with a chic soiree Wednesday night to benefit the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute’s Women’s Heart Center. It was the first glimpse many people had gotten of the store -- one of the anchor retailers of the revamped Santa Monica Place -- which is scheduled to reopen this weekend after a two-year closure.

The event drew an eclectic crowd -- including Barbra Streisand and James Brolin -- and it’s not often you can say you've seen Rock & Republic co-founder Michael Ball out of one eye, and Diane Keaton out of the other. Dinner kicked off with remarks from Bloomingdale's Chairman Michael Gould and Streisand who served as the honorary event chair.
“They are going to have coffee yogurt here, my fave,” Streisand said, referring to the Forty Carrots Cafe on the store’s second level, before moving on to the more serious topic at hand. “Five hundred thousand women in the U.S. die every year of heart disease. That’s more than die from all cancers combined,” she said, making a pitch for the Women’s Heart Center. “If properly funded, this center can save lives of women around the world. Heart disease is not just a man’s disease anymore.”
She introduced Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, the Center’s cirector, who spoke of the groundbreaking research being done at her institution and others, spotlighting University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Doris Taylor, who found that female stem cells alone, not male, can grow a human heart in a petri dish.
"The biggest challenge with growing a heart is that the cells need to be given some direction," she said. "And male stem cells tend to get lost." After a ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, Merz followed up with an important point.
“So in all likelihood gentlemen, when you need a new organ, or a stem cell, it will come from a woman,” she said.

Barbra Comments on Jennifer Aniston Photo Shoot.

Jennifer Aniston paid homage to Barbra in a photo shoot that is featured in this month's Harper's Bazaar magazine -- and here's what Barbra said about the photos:

I was very flattered that Jennifer Aniston chose to interpret my style with the photos in Harper's Bazaar. She's a delightful person, and I think she did a wonderful job. If only she had a bump on her nose.

Click here for more on the article: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/aniston

Eight-Time GRAMMY® Winner Barbra Streisand to Be Honored as 2011 MusiCares® Person of the Year

Barbra Streisand, actress/singer/director/writer/composer/producer/designer/author/activist and eight-time GRAMMY® winner (as well as GRAMMY Legend and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient), will be honored as the 2011 MusiCares® Person of the Year at its 21st annual benefit gala, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation® and The Recording Academy®, and Paul Caine, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board. Proceeds from the dinner and concert honoring Streisand — to be held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, two days prior to the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards — will provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The legendary artist is being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of her renowned creative accomplishments as well as her philanthropic work, which has included an extraordinary range of charitable activities over the years.

"Barbra Streisand is a genuine Renaissance woman, someone for whom artistry and philanthropy go hand in hand," said Portnow. "The enormous talent, passion and dedication she brings to her creative projects — whether film, television or music — are matched by the generosity and commitment she devotes to her charitable causes. It is fitting to celebrate the incredible legacy of Barbra at our 21st Annual MusiCares Person of the Year tribute."

"Barbra is synonymous with artistic excellence," said Caine. "What is truly remarkable is that an artist of her stature also gives back with such open arms. As part of her wide philanthropy, over $21 million was directed to causes she supports from her two most recent concert tours."

"For me, being able to create is both a gift and a responsibility, and I have seen firsthand the power of philanthropy to make the world a safer, healthier and more peaceful place," said Streisand. "It is an honor to be recognized as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year. I have so much respect for the work they do to create a lifeline of resources — whether it's emergency financial assistance or access to addiction recovery resources — for music people in times of need."

The 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a dinner, the award presentation and a star-studded tribute concert. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The celebration culminates with the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Barbra Streisand's career has been marked by bold creative achievements and highlighted by a series of firsts. An unparalleled talent, Streisand is the only artist ever to receive Oscar®, Tony®, Emmy®, GRAMMY, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globe®, National Medal of Arts, and Peabody awards, as well as France's Legion d'honneur and the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the first female film director to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
Streisand is the only performer to have a No. 1 album in five consecutive decades. She has earned 51 gold, 30 platinum and 18 multi-platinum albums, each of which exceeds all other female singers, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA also notes that her 71.5 million album sales top the RIAA list of album sales by a female singer. With the debut of Love Is The Answer at No. 1 in 2009, the time span between her first and most recent No. 1 albums is 46 years — exceeding that of any other performer or act.

For her first motion picture, Funny Girl, she won the 1968 Academy Award® for best actress, the first of two Oscar nominations in that category. With Yentl (1983), her first film as a director, she became the first woman ever to produce, direct, write, and star in a major motion picture. Yentl earned five Oscar nominations and Golden Globes for both Best Director/Motion Picture and Best Motion Picture/Comedy or Musical. The Prince Of Tides, her next directorial feature in which she also produced and starred, was the first motion picture directed by its female star ever to receive a Feature Film nomination from the DGA as well as seven Academy Award nominations. She won a DGA award (Best Director Music/Variety Television Program) in 1994 for her television special, "Barbra: The Concert," which she co-directed with Dwight Hemion.

Her very first Broadway appearance in "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," earned her the New York Drama Critics Award and received a Tony nomination. For her very first solo recording, The Barbra Streisand Album, she won two GRAMMY Awards in 1963 for Best Vocal Performance, Female and Album Of The Year; which made her the youngest artist to have received that award at the time. For "Evergreen," the love theme from her 1976 hit film, A Star Is Born, she became the first female composer ever to win an Academy Award. She was nominated again in 1997 as co-composer of "I Finally Found Someone," based on her 1996 film The Mirror Has Two Faces. The film achieved two Oscar nominations and the best supporting actress Golden Globe for Lauren Bacall. Streisand's first television special, "My Name Is Barbra" (1965), received five Emmy Awards, including one for best performance, as well as her first of two Peabody Awards. This achievement was repeated 30 years later by "Barbra: The Concert," which won two additional Emmy Awards for Streisand among the five for the production. That show was also accorded a Peabody Award, a DGA award and three CableACE awards, and it became the highest-rated musical event in HBO's history. Her 2001 television concert special, "Timeless. Live in Concert," also co-directed by its star, won four more Emmys, including one for Streisand's performance.

DVD releases of her concerts have achieved notable recent firsts. In 2009 her three-disc offering, Streisand The Concerts, reigned in the No. 1 position on Billboard's DVD charts for three weeks. A year later, One Night Only, capturing her heralded performance at the Village Vanguard in New York before an audience of 100 lottery-picked fans and some of her notable friends, opened at No. 1 as well.

Her civil rights activism and philanthropic pursuits are just as impressive. The Streisand Foundation has given millions of dollars through 2,100 grants to nonprofit organizations and she has raised many millions more through her performances. Streisand supports an impressive range of causes from AIDS organizations to nonprofits that work on issues of women's equality, the protection of both human rights and civil rights, the needs of children at risk in society, the preservation of the environment, Jewish/Arab relations, and relations between African-Americans and Jews.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit http://www.musicares.com/.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.

For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys ), MySpace (www.myspace.com/thegrammys ), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys ), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys).

For information on purchasing tables and tickets to the event, please contact Dana Tomarken at MusiCares, 310.392.3777.

Jennifer Aniston: The Barbra Streisand Cover Shoot

Cover girl Jennifer Aniston like you've never seen her before: as Barbra Streisand, America's original funny girl.

Click here for more on this fantastic article.

What's Up, Doc? Mini-review.

I was thrilled to see an advanced copy of "What's Up, Doc?" Blu-ray waiting for me on the doormat yesterday as I returned from vacation. I have to be honest -- I didn't know what to expect when I put the disc on. After all, the movie is 38 years old. What magic could be done to transfer the movie to Blu-ray to make it so different to the DVD disc?

Well I had no reason to worry.

As I watched the movie for the first time in Blu-ray, I was blown away at how crisp and clear it was. It was like watching a new movie. If someone told me that it was filmed in 2010, I would have probably believed them! The details are so perfect that you can actually see how blue Barbra's eyes are -- and the sound is so clear that you can hear every bit of background music, such as the scene with Judy Maxwell standing in the lobby near the beginning of the movie.

Barbra's commentary throughout the movie is hilarious too.

"Hi, this is Barbra... Streisand"... As if she needs any introduction? And it's reassuring to know that even Barbra was confused with the suitcases -- even she didn't know who's was who!

"I always like stretched clothes... and I wore stretched satin. I remember singing in black satin, in concerts, because it was easy to breathe, sing and move".

"My hair was so straight in those days. It gets curlier as you get older". And so on. I'm no technical expert, but all in all, Warner Bros have done a wonderful job transferring this movie to Blu-ray.

It's a must for anyone's collection. The colors are remarkable, and the sound is crisp.

Let's hope we see just as good results with other movies such as Funny Girl, The Way We Were, Prince of Tides and all the others.

Since next year is the 20th anniversary of Prince of Tides, it would be nice if Sony pushed the boat out - and released a deluxe edition of the movie - including all of the wonderful behind-the-scenes footage that Barbra worked on in the early 90s, which were due to be released on Laserdisc - but shelved at the last moment. Bonus features included camera tests, rehearsal footage, additional endings, deleted scenes and so much more. Sony -- if you're listening?

What's Up, Doc? is released on August 10. Order your copy here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IVXRAI?ie=UTF8&tag=barbranewsc02-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B003IVXRAI

Barbra To Attend Wedding Of The Year?

I'm sure it's no surprise to hear that Barbra may attend the wedding of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday in Rhinebeck, NY. While there have been no official statements released from Barbra's people -- just about every press report has listed Barbra as an attendee.

We'll let you know if any photographs are released of Barbra at the wedding, but knowing how press-shy Chelsea Clinton is, it's likely to be private family and friend affair.

Great photo of Barbra

... with make up artist David De Leon. On the last day of FOCKERS.