Born: March 12, 1946 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Liza Minnelli was practically raised at MGM studios, the daughter of Judy Garland and movie director Vincente Minnelli. While her parents worked long hours there Liza made her film debut at fourteen months of age in the movie In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Her parents divorced in 1951 and, in 1952, her mother married Sidney Luft, with sister Lorna Luft and brother Joey Luft subsequently being born. Her father, Vincente Minnelli, later married Georgette Magnani, mother of her half-sister Christiane Nina “Tina Nina” Minnelli.
At sixteen, Liza was on her own in New York City, struggling to begin her career in show business. Her first recognition came for the play Best Foot Forward which ran for seven months in 1963. A year later, Judy invited Liza to appear with her for a show at the London Paladium. This show sold out immediately and a second night was added to it. Liza's performance in London was a huge turning point in both her career and her relationship with her mother. The audience absolutely loved Liza and Judy realized that Liza was now an adult with her own career. It was at the Paladium that Liza met her first husband, Peter Allen, a friend of Judy's.
Liza won a Tony award at age nineteen and was nominated for her first Academy Award at age twenty-three for the role of Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969). Other dramatic roles followed and, in 1972, she won an Oscar for her performance as Sally Bowles in the movie Cabaret (1972). The seventies were a busy time for Liza. She worked steadily in film, stage and music. She and good friend Halston were regulars at Studio 54, the trendiest disco club in the world. Marriages to filmmaker Jack Haley Jr. and Mark Gero, a sculptor who earned his living in the theater followed. Each marriage ended in divorce.
Over the past years, her career has leaned more towards stage performances and she has a long list of musical albums which she continues to add to. She teamed with Frank Sinatra in his Duets CD and Sammy Davis Jr. joined them for a series of concerts and TV shows which were extremely well-received.
Best Foot Forward
(1963) (Original Cast Recording)
Liza! Liza!
(1964)
Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli Live at the London Palladium
(1965)
Flora the Red Menace
(1965) (Original Cast Recording)
It Amazes Me
(1965)
There Is a Time
(1966)
The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood
(1966) (soundtrack)
Liza Minnelli
(1968)
Come Saturday Morning
(1969)
New Feelin'
(1970)
Liza Minnelli: Live at the Olympia in Paris
(1972)
Cabaret
(1972) (soundtrack)
Liza with a 'Z'
(1972) (soundtrack)
The Singer
(1973)
Liza Minnelli: Live at the Winter Garden
(1974)
Lucky Lady
(1975) (soundtrack)
A Matter of Time
(1976) (soundtrack)
New York, New York
(1977) (soundtrack)
Tropical Nights
(1977)
The Act
(1978) (Original Cast Recording)
Live at Carnegie Hall
(1981)
The Rink
(1984) (Original Cast Recording)
Liza Minnelli at Carnegie Hall
(1987)
Results
(1989)
Larlo My Love
(1990)
Stepping Out
(1991) (soundtrack)
Liza: Live from Radio City Music Hall
(1992)
Aznavour Minnelli: Paris, Palais des Congrès
(1995)
Music from The Life: A New Musical
(1995)
Gently
(1996)
Minnelli on Minnelli: Live at the Palace
(1999)
Liza's Back
(2002)
Liza's at the Palace...!
(2009)
The God-Mother and The God-Daughter
Popular Singles
Theme from New York, New York
Losing My Mind
(1989)
Don't Drop Bombs
(1989)
So Sorry, I Said
(1989)
Love Pains
(1990)
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
