The very sudden death of cabaret’s own Rick Jensen, on March 24, 2021, has sent ripples of grief through the community. He was only 63 years old. It’s a much-used phrase, but “beloved by all” is an accurate expression of how highly regarded he was in the business.
Rick was a multi-talent—a music director, singer, songwriter, arranger, music producer and educator. He was an eight-time MAC award winner, a two-time Backstage Bistro Award recipient and a two-time winner of the Gay & Lesbian American Music Award (GLAMA). In 2017 he was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Jamie deRoy & friend’s Songwriting Award. He was featured on the cover of Cabaret Scenes magazine in October 2005. Rick appeared in venues as diverse as the Duplex cabaret to the stage of Carnegie Hall as well as Washington DC’s Source Theatre, The Roslyn Spectrum Theatre in Arlington, VA, The Mabel Mercer Foundation’s Cabaret Convention at Town Hall, Symphony Space, The Metropolitan Room, Don’t Tell Mama and many more.
Over 40 years, the number of theater and cabaret artists he worked with would fill volumes. Early in his career he was known for his collaboration with cabaret artist Nancy LaMott (who also left us too soon) as her MD. LaMott recorded his song, “In Passing Years,” on her Beautiful Baby CD.
Among the many performers he’s worked with are luminaries including Jason Graae, Liz Callaway, Barbara Fasano, Jeanne MacDonald, Lina Koutrakos and Tovah Feldshuh. With Feldshuh, he toured extensively, culminating in an appearance at London’s Savoy Theatre raising eight million dollars for charity. He is also a featured performer on composer Carol Hall’s CD Hallsongs.
Rick taught performance at New York University, The Yale Cabaret Conference and the Eugene O’Neil Conference. He also taught with Lina Koutrakos as well as making frequent trips to St Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston, Santa Fe and Los Angeles for performance workshops.
In 1996, Rick formed his own recording company, The Doctor Is In Music, to record and distribute not only his own albums, but the albums of those performers whose work inspired him. The company produced numerous CDs, including his own CD of original songs, Spring Harvest (available on iTunes and Amazon).
Rick originally hailed from Wobasso, MN, a small town in the state (population about 765). He was one of five children, with two sisters and two other brothers. He attended Augsburg University before settling in New York City and taking up the piano as his instrument of choice—he actually started out playing the trumpet!
The publisher and staff of NiteLife Exchange mourns the passing of Rick Jensen and sends condolences to his family, many friends, associates and colleagues.
Leave a Reply