He invited me to his home in the rolling hills of the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles. I wasn’t sure I had the correct address, for this three story, brick, stone, and wrought iron mansion, looked as if should be on the cover of a medieval mystery novel.

The sounds of a buzz saw didn’t ease my apprehension as I tripped over a paint can, walked around a ladder, and soon bumped into four workers busily remodeling the house.

Suddenly the rays of the sun fanned out from behind a cloud, and a lovely voice was singing "’S Wonderful" one of my favorite Gershwin tunes. Viola, here he was Michael Feinstein, looking like a college boy. Spreading his arms wide, he smiled, 

"Welcome!"

"Your new home is enormous," I exclaimed.

"It’s 34 rooms," he said waving his hand in the air as if trying to count them. 

"It’s museum–like. Does it have a ghost? 

"I’ve lived in Los Angeles 22 years, but I only bought this house eight months ago. I haven’t been home too much. My concert schedule has expanded since this is the 100^th anniversary of one of my favorites, George Gershwin. Also, it’s the centenary of British icon, Noel Coward, so we’ve added some engagements in England, plus a special evening at New York’s Carnegie Hall."  Feinstein admits he must maintain a strict schedule when he’s on the road--plenty of sleep, exercise, vitamins, and healthy eating. "I find it impossible to work this hard, travel so much, and not take care of myself. I’ve wondered about rock stars who often seem to live lives of excess and still keep up the pace. Under the best situations, it can be grueling." 

Feinstein, born in Columbus, Ohio, began playing the piano before he went to school " I wasn’t a protégé who could instantly play Mozart," he assured. "but I did have an immediate facility to hear a tune one time and be able to play it on the piano. My parents had bought a new home, and could only afford to buy either furniture or a piano. 

"My dad loved music so he wanted the piano, my mother insisted no one would play it. My dad prevailed and paid $500 for an upright. The next week they took me to see the movie, ‘The Sound of Music,’ with Julie Andrews. That afternoon I sat down and began to play "Do-re-mi" from the film. My mom was in the kitchen, when she heard the music and came in.

‘Your father taught you that?’ she asked. 

‘ No, he didn’t,’ I answered a little bit offended. My dad could only play three songs, ‘Heart and Soul,’ ‘Midnight in Moscow’ and ‘Chopsticks’ "

His mom couldn’t believe it. Here was her little boy playing chords on the piano. When her husband came home, he confirmed that he hadn’t taught Michael to play. From then on, they began giving him lessons. After a few months, Michael quit, and has been teaching himself ever since. 

He must be doing something right. His concerts are sold out, his records and albums are on the charts for months, and now he’s composed the music to the documentary, "Get Bruce." 

"When I was a teenager I kept dreaming about Los Angeles," he confided. "On my 20^th birthday, without any job or promises, I drove to L.A.. In less than a year, I was hired by composer Ira Gershwin to organize his music library."

Working so closely with Gershwin opened the door to the elite of Hollywood. Michael also learned stories about Ira’s brother, George Gershwin. The young Feinstein was thrilled to learn such a treasury of memories and melodies. Ira once told him of a moment he’d love to preserve. The Gershwin Brothers arrived in Hollywood in 1936 to do music for Fred Astaire films. One day Ira arrived home, and George called to him. He had just received delivery of a Hammond organ, complete to all the latest technical improvements the ‘30’s could invent. For two hours, Ira listened as George improvised on the organ. "I wish I could have recorded that afternoon," Ira told Michael, "for it became my favorite memory of my brother."

Just as Feinstein became the son Gershwin never had, so his next door neighbor, Rosemary Clooney became a "second mother." "The first TV appearance I ever made," Michael confided, "was in ’85 on the Merv Griffin TV show. I was so scared, I asked Rosemary if she’d come on the show with me. She did, and I got through it. That’s what is known as a true friend. She was also on my first album. Today she is still one of my closest and dearest friends. I will fly anywhere in the world if she calls."

Feinstein’s concerts always include great popular songs of the ‘30’s, 40’s, and ‘50’s. Suddenly, young people understand the music their parents and grandparents fell in love listening to and dancing to. The kids love it. His signature songs, "’S Wonderful," "Love is Here to Say, " and "Someone To Watch Over Me," are favorite of the college set. "I’m so thrilled when I sing and play these songs, and realize I’m introducing them to a whole new audience."