Charlie Smalls

Charlie Smalls (1943-1987), a musical prodigy, began playing piano at age three. After graduating from The Juilliard School in 1961, he began a varied performing and composing career. He was a pianist with the New York Jazz Repertory Company and toured with Harry Belafonte, Hugh Masekela and others. Smalls began working on The Wiz in 1970, dedicating three years to completing the score. The Wiz opened on Broadway in 1975 and Smalls won two Tony Awards, for music and lyrics. He also wrote the score for the 1976 film Drum. Charlie Smalls died in Belgium at age 43 during emergency appendicitis surgery.