Gary Portnoy

Gary Portnoy
Genres	Pop music, Country music
Occupations	Vocalist, Musician, Songwriter
Years active	1980–present
Website	http://garyportnoy.com/

Gary Portnoy is an American musician and singer-songwriter from the state of New York best known for co-writing and singing the theme songs for two popular television shows: Where Everybody Knows Your Name (the theme for Cheers) and Every Time I Turn Around (the theme for Punky Brewster). In addition to co-writing both songs with fellow collaborator, Judy Hart Angelo, the two also co-authored the theme to the long-running television series, Mr. Belvedere.

Career

In the early 1980's, Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo were composing the score to an off-Broadway musical, Preppies, when Glen and Les Charles – two of the producers for Cheers – heard their opening number, People Like Us, but were unable to acquire the rights to the song from the musical's producers. Portnoy and Angelo then set out to write an entirely new theme for Cheers. After their first two attempts were rejected, Where Everybody Knows Your Name was finally selected as the sitcom's theme song.

Prior to writing the theme for Cheers, Portnoy had already found success as a young yet highly regarded songwriter. His songs had been recorded by various popular artists including Dolly Parton's Say Goodnight (co-written by Susan Sheridan) and Air Supply's I'll Never Get Enough of You (co-written by Jeanne Napoli and Judy Quay). He also recorded and released a self-titled album in 1980 for Columbia Records which has since been re-released on digital CD by Sony Japan.

Portnoy also wrote several songs for the critically acclaimed NBC television series, Fame, including the Emmy-nominated track for Best Original Song entitled I Still Believe In Me (co-written by Susan Sheridan) as well as It's Gonna Be a Long Night (co-written by Estelle Levitt). Both songs were featured on the 1982 album, The Kids From "Fame". In addition to the Emmy nomination for the Fame composition, Portnoy also received an Emmy nomination for Cheers as well as six consecutive ASCAP awards during the 1980s for the Most Performed Television Themes of the year.

In 2004 – after an extensive hiatus from the music business during the 1990s, Portnoy released the 12-track album entitled Keeper which includes the original full-length version of the Cheers theme song, Where Everybody Knows Your Name. (At that time the song was also made available for downloading at iTunes.) In 2007, he followed with the release of the autobiographical 12-track album, Destiny, which contains a full-length version of him singing the TV theme song for Mr. Belvedere (whose original version was sung by Leon Redbone.) In 2010, Portnoy released the 12-track album, Songs Along The Way, which includes 11 newly penned compositions as well as the original never-before-released demo version of the iconic Cheers theme song.

Discography

Albums

• Gary Portnoy (1980, Columbia Records)
• Keeper (2003, Argentum Records)
• Destiny (2007, Argentum Records)
• Songs Along The Way (2010, Argentum Records)

Songs recorded by other artists (partial list)

• When I'm Loving You (co-written by Paul Vance)

Recorded by Gail Wynters for her 1977 RCA album, Let The Lady Sing

• Shee Moe Foe (co-written by Irwin Levine)

Recorded by Mac Davis for his 1978 Columbia album, Fantasy

• I'll Never Get Enough Of You (co-written by Jeanne Napoli and Judy Quay)

Recorded by Samantha Sang for her 1979 Private Stock album, From Dance To Love

• On The Run (co-written by Jeanne Napoli)

Recorded by Cheryl Ladd for her 1979 Capitol album, Dance Forever

• Say Goodnight (co-written by Susan Sheridan)

Recorded by Dolly Parton for her 1980 RCA album, Dolly, Dolly, Dolly

• Late Night Confession (co-written by Juli Davidson)

Recorded by Glen Campbell for his 1980 Capitol album, Something Bout You Baby I Like

• Move A Little Closer (co-written by Jeanne Napoli)

Recorded by Keith Barrow for his 1980 Capitol album, Just As I Am

• I'll Never Get Enough of You (co-written by Jeanne Napoli and Judy Quay)

Recorded by Air Supply for their 1981 Arista album, The One that You Love

• When the Night Ends (co-written by Ruth Rosen Greenwood)

Recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck for his 1981 Columbia album, Don't You Love Me Anymore

• Say Goodnight (co-written by Susan Sheridan)

Recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck for his 1981 Columbia album, Don't You Love Me Anymore

• I Still Believe In Me (co-written by Susan Sheridan)

Recorded by Debbie Allen and Erica Gimpel as featured on the 1982 RCA album, The Kids From "Fame"

• It's Gonna Be a Long Night (co-written by Estelle Levitt)

Recorded by Lori Singer as featured on the 1982 RCA album, The Kids From "Fame"

• I Was Only Trying To Help (co-written by Ruth Rosen Greenwood)

Recorded by Valerie Landsburg as featured on the 1982 RCA album, The Kids From "Fame" Again

• Face To Face (co-written by Judy Hart Angelo)

Recorded by Valerie Landsburg as featured on the 1983 RCA album, The Kids From "Fame" Sing For You

• Come to Me Tonight (co-written by Susan Sheridan)

Recorded by Roberto Carlos for his 1990 Columbia album, From Brazil With Love

• Mr. Belvedere Theme (co-written by Judy Hart Angelo)

Recorded by Leon Redbone as featured on the 1996 TVT album, Television's Greatest Hits Volume 6

• This Is Forever (co-written by Gloria Nissenson and Carol Ann Brown)

Recorded by Samantha King for her 2002 SKMG album, This Is Forever

• The Horse (co-written by Gloria Nissenson and Matt Rossi)

Recorded by Mammoth Jack for their 2002 Broken Bow album, Mammoth Jack

• I Miss Us (co-written by Gloria Nissenson)

Recorded by Sarah Gayle Taylor for her 2008 Lure album, Texas Sweetheart

External links

• Gary Portnoy's Official website- includes a video history "Outside Cheers" that showcases the life of "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" beyond the series. There is also a detailed, biographical account of the story behind the Cheers theme (including audio recordings of rejected earlier efforts), the original demo recording, and full lyrics.