The only thing worse than the Big Apple’s pungent aroma is its high cost of living. Like many college students, Brian struggled to make ends meet, so between his studies at Juilliard and his gig at Trude Hellers, he took on extra roles and bit parts he usually found on the school’s bulletin board. Most of the time, he was just another face in the crowd, but every now and then, he would land a small part, like a drunk taxi driver, a psychotic drug dealer, or even a typical belligerent NYC cop. For instance, when the movie Fame was being produced, Brian played one of the many extras in the street-dancer scene, and in Raging Bull, he was one of the fight spectators. You get the idea. A quick buck for a bit part…
Brian’s daily happy hour gig in the wine bar at Trude Heller’s was his domain. It was the perfect stage for him to hone his craft, dive into jazz and show tunes, and create connections with the bar’s regular patrons. Among those familiar faces was Phil Ramone, the legendary producer and co-founder of A&R Recording Studios. Phil was known for his groundbreaking work with iconic artists like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and Barbra Streisand.