Cook, Barbara (1927-2017), was an internationally popular American singer . Cook won acclaim for her clear and expressive soprano voice. She was also known for her skill in interpreting popular songs, especially songs from the Broadway stage.
Barbara Nell Cook was born on Oct. 25, 1927, in Atlanta, Georgia. She began performing in 1948. Cook made her Broadway debut in 1951 in the musical Flahooley. Her performance in a supporting role in the musical Plain and Fancy (1955) led to a starring role in Candide, an operetta by the American composer Leonard Bernstein. Her performance of the difficult aria “Glitter and Be Gay” was a highlight of the show.
Cook became a Broadway star in 1957 in the role of Marian the librarian in the hit musical The Music Man. She won a Tony Award for her performance as best featured actress in a musical. She also earned praise in the musical She Loves Me (1963). The song “Ice Cream” from the show became her theme song.
During the 1970’s, Cook left the musical stage to devote herself to concert and cabaret (nightclub) appearances. She became a favorite in the United Kingdom as well as the United States. Cook had particular success performing in two shows featuring the songs of the American composer Stephen Sondheim —Barbara Cook in Mostly Sondheim (2001) and Sondheim on Sondheim (2010). She made numerous recordings of music from Broadway shows and works by American songwriters. Cook became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2011. She died on Aug. 8, 2017.
