Over the last several days I have read numerous reports of great surprise that Barbra Streisand's new release "Love is the Answer" made it as the #1 album in its first week of release. My response is why should anyone be surprised?

Barbra Steisand is the number one female vocalist in the world and is the second largest recording artist in history --.only surpassed in album sales by Elvis Presley. "Love is the Answer" is the 9th time that one of Barbra Steisand albums has premiered as the number 1 albumn in America and she is the only entertainer in history to have a number 1 albumn in each of five consecutive decades.

Barbra Streisand was discovered as a world class talent at the age of 19, she became a major worldwide sensation at 21 and by the time she reached the ripe old age of 24, she had become an entertainment legend. Ms. Streisand has won every conceivable award for her recordings, movies, television, the Broadway stage as well as numerous awards for direction and production -- not to mention the prestigious Kennedy Center Awards this year.

To put it mildly, Barbra Steisand has thrilled the world for 48 years as an entertainer and continues to grow as an artist in her fifth decade as a performer. Her life story is well known -- a brillant student who graduated near the top of her high school class and who came from an extremely impoverished background with little emotional support or encouragement from her family, Her loving mother, Diana, with the best of intentions, encouraged Barbra to become a secretary as she felt that Barbra was not attractive enough to be seriously accepted as an entertainer and would ultimately have her feelings hurt.. Barbra Streisand overcame a multitude of obstacles duirng the early stages of her career and became one of the most stunning and admired women in the world. I challenge anyone to say that she has not earned everything that she has obtained during her 48 year career.. As an artist she has given her vast legion of fans almost 50 years of sheer artistic pleasure. In addition, the Barbra Steisand Foundation has donated millions of dollars to health and public service organizations. There is no question in my mind that Ms. Streisand will receive the ultimate award for her artistry -- and that is to be named the single greatest entertainer of our century -- an award that she has worked her entire lifetime towards and which she has certainly earned. At 67 years of age, Barbra Streisand has provided the world with 48 years of unsurpassed fulfillment as an entertainer. The vast majority of us will never see another entertainer of her magnitude in our lifetime -- therefore celebrate the joy that she has brought to the world through her spectacular talents as an artist!

By the way folks, this year marks the 40th anniverary of Barbra's second motion picture, "Hello Dolly", which was released by 20th Century Fox in 1969, Although the picture was initially perceived by many as being a flop, it actually was one of the highest grossing box office attractions in 1969. After "Hello Dolly" was later released in VHS and then in DVD format, it has since grown to surpass the VHS/DVD sales of "The Sound of Music"! So much noise and commotion was made back in 1969 regarding Barbra Streisand being too young to play the widowed Dolly Levi. There was huge sentimental support for Carol Channing, who orginated the role of Dolly Levi on Broadway, and it was felt by many that she was entitled to be cast in the starring role in "Hello Dolly". As much as I adore and admire Carol Channing -- and I have seen Carol three times in "Hello Dolly" on Broadway, the fact is that Carol Channing could not have possibly carried such a major $20+ million dollar production of "Hello Dolly" on the big screen. Although a great character actress and a most beloved performer, Carol Channing simply did not have the voice or the screen presence necessary to star in the motion picture version of "Hello Dolly". There was only was actress back in 1968 who possessed the vocals, the charisma and the great comedic timing to portray Dolly Levi, and that actress was Barbra Streisand. So much negative publicity regarding Barbra Streisand as being miscast for the role as Dolly Levi tainted the intial release of "Hello Dolly". The fact is that "Hello Dolly" was and still is one of the most remarkable musical motion pictures ever produced. Not only was Barbra Streisand believable and stunning in the role of Dolly Levi, her incredible vocals, her comedic timing and her interaction with such an incredible ensemble was nothing less then a first class and memorable performance. The amazing Gene Kelly choreography and the stunning Irene Sharaff wardrobes, along with the wonderful Jerry Herman score, produced one of the most memorable musical motion pictures of all times.

If you have not seen "Hello Dolly" in a number of years, do yourself a favor and take another look at this spectacular film, especially in its later digitalized format! "Hello Dolly" is such a stunning film and after so many years of kvetching and debating whether Barbra Streisand was too young to play the role of Dolly Levi -- the end result was a magnificent stellar performance by Ms. Streisand and she in fact became the most spectacular Dolly of them all!

./ngs