Songbird

Background:

When Barbra Streisand opens her mouth to sing, people listen. Her voice hypnotizes the listener, bringing depths of emotion with each note. 

Barbra is a maverick, unapproachable in talent, amazingly gifted in skill. She is the first to win an Oscar for both acting and songwriting. She is the first to win a Grammy, an Emmy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. In fact she has so many awards, it is hard to keep track. Barbra has received 2 Oscars, 8 Golden Globes, 5 Emmys and a Cecil B.DeMille Award, to just name a few. Barbra holds the second most Gold Album certifications, the first going to the King himself, Elvis Presley. Barbra can direct, produce, write and star in a feature film and is the only artist ever to achieve the rank of Billboard's #1 in albums four decades in a row. Barbra's talent seems to have no boundaries.

She is outspoken, strong in the belief that celebrities have the right to speak in public about politics and she supports the Democratic Party.

Barbra took leave of performing live for more than 20 years after receiving a death threat but selectively returned to the public eye in 1994. Fans could not have been happier.

Fans can also enjoy Barbra in the new comedy, Meet the Fockers (2004), sequel to the popular movie, Meet the Parents (2000).

In December of 2004 Barbra was reported to be in good health after a benign polyp was removed from her colon.

The songbird sings on...

"I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy, and driven." Barbra Streisand

"The audience is the barometer of the truth." Barbra Streisand

A Star Is Born

Childhood and Family:

Barbara Joan Streisand was born on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Emanuel (English teacher, died August 4, 1943) and Diana (school clerk, died on March 30, 2002). Her older brother Sheldon Jay was born in 1935. Barbra attended the Beis Yakov School in Brooklyn and then Erasmus Hall High School, also of Brooklyn, New York. She graduated High School in 1959.

Barbra Streisand married actor Elliott Gould on March 21, 1963, but later divorced in 1971. Their son, Jason Gould, is Barbra's only child. In 1991 Jason would play the role of Bernard Woodruff in the haunting film The Prince of Tides, starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. Barbra also directed the successful movie.

Barbra has been linked to such celebrities as actor Ryan O'Neal, hairdresser/producer Jon Peters, actor Don Johnson, composer James Newton Howard, tennis player Andre Agassi and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. It was not until 1998 that Ms. Streisand would marry again. Barbra and actor/director James Brolin were married on July 1, 1998 in Malibu, California.

Best of the Best

Career:

Barbra Streisand successful career is almost unprecedented with natural talent. As a musician, singer, actress, director, producer, composer, costume designer and writer, Barbra has topped both the musical charts and the box office and stunned the world with her talented gifts. Barbra Streisand is the best selling female singer of the 20th Century.

In 1962 Barbra signed with Columbia Records and her first album, The Barbra Streisand Album, was released. She would go on to win her first two Grammy Awards with the album. Her career continued to succeed with such movies as Funny Girl (1968), Hello, Dolly! (1969), The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), What's Up, Doc? (1972), The Way We Were (1973), A Star Is Born (1976), The Main Event (1979), All Night Long (1981), Yentl (1983), The Prince of Tides (1991) and Nuts (1987). Lending her magical voice to films such as Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) thrilled moviegoers.

Barbra has recorded over 40 albums and has shared duets with some of the best voices known in the industry. Hits like Guilty (sung with Barry Gibb), You Don't Bring Me Flowers (with Neil Diamond), Cryin' Time (with Ray Charles), and so many more, played only a mere second to her amazing songs like Evergreen, The Way We Were, Don't Rain on my Parade and People.

Some of Barbra's Producer skills can be seen in movies like A Star Is Born (1976, Executive Producer), Yentl (1983, Producer), The Prince of Tides (1991, Producer) and The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996, Producer). Steven Spielberg once said, "I wish I could tell you how to fix your picture, but I can't. It's the best film I've seen since Citizen Kane." (referring to the movie Yentl)

One can catch Barbra in a newer film called Meet the Fockers (2004), also starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Blythe Danner.

Barbra's list of accomplishments and credits goes on and on. She is viewed as one of the most talented women of our time.

Awards:

-  ShowEast: Filmmaker of the Year, 1996
-  Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, Barbra Streisand: The Concert, 1995
-  Emmy: Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program, Barbra Streisand: The Concert, 1995
-  Directors Guild of America Award: Musical/Variety Special, Barbra Streisand: The Concert (shared with Dwight Hemion), 1994
-  CableACE: Best Performance in a Music Special or Series, Barbra Streisand: The Concert, 1994
-  Grammy Legend Award, 1992
- NATO/ShoWest: Star of the Decade, 1988
-  Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance (female), The Broadway Album, 1987
-  Women in Film: Crystal Award, 1984
-  Golden Globe: Best Director, Yentl, 1984
-  Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture (musical or comedy), Yentl, 1984
-  American Music: Pop/Rock Female Vocalist, 1980
-  Grammy: Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal, "Guilty" (shared with Barry Gibb), 1980
-  People's Choice: Favorite Motion Picture Actress, 1978
-  People's Choice: Favorite Motion Picture Actress, 1977
-  Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance (female), Love Theme From A Star Is Born: "Evergreen", 1977
-  Grammy: Song of the Year, "Evergreen" (shared with co-writer Paul Williams, tied with Joe Brooks' "You Light Up My Life"), 1977
-  American Guild of Variety Artists: Georgie Award, 1977
-  Golden Globe: World Film Favorite (female), 1977
-  Oscar: Best Song, "Evergreen" (from A Star Is Born, shared with Paul Williams), 1976
-  Golden Globe: Best Original Song, "Evergreen" (from A Star Is Born, shared with Paul Williams), 1976
-  Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, A Star Is Born, 1976
-  Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy), A Star Is Born, 1976
-  People's Choice: Favorite Motion Picture Actress, 1975
-  People's Choice: Favorite Female Musical Performer (tied with Olivia Newton-John), 1975
-  Golden Globe: World Film Favorite (female), 1974
-  Special Tony: Best Actress of the Decade, 1970
-  Golden Globe: World Film Favorite (female), 1970
-  Golden Globe: World Film Favorite (female), 1969
-  NATO: Star of the Year, 1968
-  Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Motion Picture, Funny Girl, 1968
-  Oscar: Best Actress, Funny Girl (tied with Katharine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter), 1968
-  London Critics: Musical Award, 1966
-  Grammy: Best Vocal Performance (female), My Name Is Barbra, 1965
-  Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Entertainment, Actors and Performers, My Name Is Barbara, 1965
-  Grammy: Best Vocal Performance (female), "People", 1964
-  Grammy: Best Vocal Performance (female), The Barbra Streisand Album, 1963
-  Grammy: Album of the Year, The Barbra Streisand Album, 1963
-  New York Drama Critics Circle: I Can Get It for You Wholesale, 1962