Danny Apolinar

Danny Apolinar, a composer and performer who co-wrote the 1960s rock musical “Your Own Thing,” died March 23, 1995 of kidney failure in New York, He was 61. Danny Apolinar (1934-1995) was a multi-talented composer, lyricist, and nightclub entertainer, who perhaps was best known for creating the successful Off-Broadway rock musical, Your Own Thing (1968) -- Born Daniel George Apolinar in Brooklyn, New York, Apolinar began dancing lessons at the age of four. In 1956, while still a graphic art student, he began singing and playing the piano at nightclubs. After serving in the military, Apolinar formed the Danny Apolinar Trio, and the group performed in various venues in New York and toured throughout the United States for several years. In 1965, Apolinar settled in San Juan, Puerto Rico, appearing regularly at A Spot In The Sun, a nightclub which he co-owned with composer Hal Hester. During the day, the two men would work on their ideas for a musical, and in the evenings Apolinar would test their compositions in front of an audience. By 1968, these ideas had developed into Your Own Thing, a rock musical which would become an Off-Broadway hit. Originally entitled The London Look, the show was a free adaptation of William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night. In addition to co-writing the lyrics and music with Hester, Apolinar also designed the logo for the poster, contributed to the costume design, and was part of the on-stage musical group for the original New York production. The show ran for three years in New York, had seven simultaneous touring companies in North America, and also was produced in London and Australia. The Off-Broadway production, received an original cast album, won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and helped to launch the career of Sandy Duncan. Apolinar's subsequent efforts to replicate that success in musical theater were not as fruitful. He worked on several new shows that remained unproduced, including Alice (1970) and Bugs (1971). Apolinar later wrote the lyrics for two Off-Broadway musicals in collaboration with composer Addy Fieger, The Wicked Mrs. Woodhull (1976) and penned the lyrics Changes (1980) the latter staged at the Theater de Lys. His career as a cabaret performer, however, remained a constant throughout his life. A professionally trained graphic artist, Apolinar also created artwork for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and record albums. “Your Own Thing” won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and ran for three years in New York. Apolinar and Hal Hester wrote the music and lyrics for the 1968 Off Broadway musical, a satire loosely based on Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night.” Prior to his success with the Broadway musical "Your Own Thing" he was a graphic artist and had designed the cover of his first little known LP "The Impossible Danny Apolinar".