Marty Erlichman, the Manager Behind Barbra Streisand for 60 Years, Dies at 97

Marty Erlichman, the man who discovered Barbra Streisand at 19 and guided her career for more than six decades, died Oct. 31 at 97. He found her singing at the Bon Soir nightclub in New York, then secured her first record deal with Columbia, negotiating creative control over her repertoire and album covers at a time when artists rarely got that say. Together they built one of the most successful careers in entertainment history.

Streisand’s tribute is as moving as it gets.“I truly thought he would live forever,”she said.“In my eyes, he was simply indestructible — always by my side, through everything. And we never even had a contract.”That’s right: 60 years, no paperwork.

Erlichman’s reach went well beyond one superstar. He managed The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, Chevy Chase and George Foreman, and produced films including For Pete’s Sake, Coma and Breathless. He won an Emmy and a Peabody for the 1994 HBO special Barbra: The Concert. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Miko Mayama Erlichman, son J.J., and four grandchildren. What’s your favorite Streisand moment of all time?