My Angel Shirley MacLaine

The news of both Michael Wilmington and Larry Carlton's voice recovery circulated quickly around certain circles in Hollywood, and before I knew it, I was receiving calls both from singers and those suffering from voice problems. One call was from noted publicist Dale Olson who knew Michael Wilmington professionally, and apparently was “stunned” by his vocal recovery. Dale insisted that he take me to lunch and said, “I would like to find out what you do with the singing voice.” It was obvious that the lunch was really an interview. For what? I didn’t ask, and I didn’t particularly care. At that time, I was eager to talk to anyone who might have valuable connections or helpful suggestions. During our lunch, I was pleasantly surprised when Dale demonstrated a basic understanding of singing technique, and even tested my knowledge. When we finished Dale said, “ I’ll be in touch.”

The very next day, exactly at noon, my phone rang and the speaker said without any introductory remarks, “Gary Catona? Dale Olson gave me your number, this is Shirley MacLaine. What are you doing in an hour? I want to drive in from Malibu for a lesson. Where do you live?” Taken aback by the call, incredulous, and nervously fumbling over my words in trying to give a composed response, I managed to choke out, “ Well sure, Miss MacLaine, sure, I think I could arrange some time—yes I think an hour would be just fine.”

In precisely one hour Shirley arrived at my little apartment in Hollywood, and we began our first lesson. After only ten minutes of work, and in the midst of Shirley coughing and sputtering through my voice building exercises, her eyes suddenly flashed open widely and she asked me with complete self-assurance and in a manner that was more a statement of fact than a question, “Gary, you’re going out on the road with me, would ya? And come to my rehearsals too?” I remember thinking at that moment, “YES” but I said calmly and with an unemotional voice: “ Of course Shirley, I am sure we could work something out.” In the twinkling of an eye, my career in Hollywood was up and running and running fast. Shirley quickly became one of my most dedicated students and developed a very strong and resonant voice for her great live performances. Outside our professional relationship, she also became a close friend and confidante.

Over the years Shirley has been a potent force in publicly supporting my efforts. Not only has she done magazine, newspaper, and television interviews on my behalf, she also devoted five pages of her book Dance While You Can to our studies in which she chronicles our daily work in building her singing (and speaking) voice. But Shirley’s significance in my life extended well beyond her role in helping me launch my career in Los Angeles.

Shirley has a deeply thought-out—if unorthodox—life-philosophy, as anyone who has read her books or heard her seminars would know. But it was not what she wrote or said that meant the most to me. It was what I saw in her actions. In observing how she routinely approached and carried out her many—and often challenging—tasks and commitments, she taught me that striving for excellence for its own sake—not for money, fame, or to please anyone—should define one’s work no matter what it is. If you simply consider her many accomplishments as an entertainer, writer, and cultural critic, you will not fail to take notice of her uncompromising artistic integrity, her Spartan-like work ethic, and her courage to fight for what she believes in—even at the risk of personal and professional loss. It’s no wonder that as an artist, student, benefactor, and dear friend, Shirley has been one of the great treasures of my life.