David Alan Friedman (b. May 16, 1950)[1] is a film and theatre composer, songwriter, author, lyricist and conductor based in New York City.
His songs include: Listen to My Heart,[2][3] Help is on the Way, We Can Be Kind, We Live on Borrowed Time, I'll Be Here With You, Just in Time for Christmas (with David Zippel) and My Simple Christmas Wish.
He was the conductor of scores for Disney's animated features that include Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and vocal contractor for Mulan.[4]
David has written songs for Diana Ross,[5] Barry Manilow [6] Petula Clark, Allison Krauss, Laura Branigan, LMNT, Jason Alexander, Laurie Beechman, Lainie Kazan, Lesley Uggams, and others. Songs written by David have been featured in the Disney movies Aladdin and the King of Thieves,[7] The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and Bambi 2,[8] in the movie Salsa and in three animated T.V. series; Happy Ness,[9] Sky Dancers [10] and Dragon Flyz.
He has also worked in theatre, on several Broadway musicals, the most well known being the original Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He was music supervisor for the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast as well as Song and Dance.[11]
He produced all of Nancy LaMott's recordings, many including his original compositions.[12]
In 2009, he released a musical with bookwriter/lyricist Peter S. Kellog, Stunt Girl, developed in association with the Village Theatre in Seattle, and based on the life of Nellie Bly.[13][14][15][16]
David is the composer of 4 musicals with Tony Award Nominated book writer/lyricist Peter Kellogg.[17] Chasing Nicolette (produced at the Westport Country Playhouse, The Prince Theater in Philadelphia, and the Village Theatre in Seattle) Stunt Girl (Village Theater in Seattle and in Washington D.C)[18]
A Christmas Oratorio called King Island Christmas, written with librettist [19] Deborah Brevoort, has had over 40 productions worldwide. David is also co-composer, with David Pomeranz and Kathie Lee Gifford of the new musical Saving Aimee about the life of Aimee Semple McPherson.[20]
David is a regular on the Today Show Everyone Has a Story [21] series, and writes a new song with Kathie Lee Gifford each month,[22] which he performs with a current Broadway star on the first Thursday of each month.[23]
David is the creator of a metaphysical method called The Thought Exchange,[24] and has written a book entitled The Thought Exchange - Overcoming Our Resistance to Living a SENSATIONAL Life.[25], In December 2011, it was reported that David Friedman will appear in a feature film based on his Thought Exchange method. [26] In his book, David Friedman admits to being diagnosed with agoraphobia at age 20, having diagnosed with the disorder was apparently what motivated him to create the Thought Exchange at a later age.
David spends a great deal of time traveling around the country concertizing, speaking, lecturing and doing Sunday talks at New Thought Organizations, Schools and Corporations.[27]