Composer Marvin Hamlisch told his story in an autobiography for adults and was excited to do the same with a picture book that now has a bittersweet release after his death at age 68.
Marvin Makes Music, illustrated by Jim Madsen, tells the true story of six-year-old Hamlisch, who was 25 minutes late to his audition for Juilliard when he and his dad got locked on the music school's roof. The grumpy judges giggled when they spotted his yellow jammies poking out from his trouser legs.
The book, for the Penguin imprint Dial, goes on sale Nov. 8 and includes a one-song CD. It was the first picture book for Hamlisch, who died Monday.
The composer had planned to promote the book.