David Campbell’s life was changed by one of Barbara Cook’s masterclasses. He recalls a great Broadway and cabaret star.

Broadway theatre and cabaret star Barbara Cook has passed away at age 89. In a tweet this morning David Campbell said: “If it wasn’t for Barbara I would not have a career. I am forever in her debt. RIP Barbara Cook, Broadway Star.”

Writing for Limelight, he recalls an inspiring artist, a great lady and a generous mentor.

^{Barbara Cook}

Barbara Cook was a one of a kind. As a young Broadway ingénue in the late ’50s her sound was perfect. Her tone, her pitch, her clarity were second to none. Listen to her on The Music Man with the great Robert Preston, her ridiculously flawless Vanilla Ice Cream from She Loves Me or Glitter and Be Gay from Bernstein’s Candide. I truly think there was none finer. She was peerless.

This voice complemented the honesty and simplicity in her interpretation of lyrics. I remember her telling me that one of her favourite songs was Irving Berlin’s simple love song Always. The lyrics seemed so simple but the emotion… Ah, that was the...