Tim Rice’s career to be celebrated with special London concert

Tim Rice’s inaugural career as a songwriter will be marked with a special show to be held at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 8 July, celebrating his huge lyrical talent and success. The show will feature songs from Rice’s productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Chess and The Lion King, featuring special guest artists. The show will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC later in the year. Rice began his professional life with the intention of being a solicitor but his career aspirations lead him to the field of pop music. After a meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber, the pair chose Victorian philanthropist Dr. Barnardo as the subject of their first musical. Torn between two career paths, Andrew eventually left Oxford University, where he was reading History to devote himself full-time to his musical career with Tim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deVA5fgufVE It was through a friend of Andrew's father, that a Rice - Lloyd Webber work first arose. They were asked to write a piece for an annual end of term concert; Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat quickly began to take on a life of its own leading to subsequent stagings, additions of new material, and even a record deal with Decca. Success with Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was followed by a show that was to bring them to international fame and a place in musical theatre history, Jesus Christ Superstar. The idea was deemed as too risky to stage, so a concept album of the work was done instead. Its international success guaranteed the global success the stage show was to enjoy. Next came Evita; after Tim heard part of a radio programme about Eva Peron: as with Jesus Christ Superstar, a concept album was released and the show's ironic anthem "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" became a number one hit in the UK. Evita was first staged in the West End in 1978 and as with Tim's previous shows, went on to play in countries around the world. In 1996, Evita was made into a film starring Madonna. Tim then met with Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA to discuss ideas for a musical. The trio collaborated on what would become Chess, staged in the West End in 1986. On numerous occasions Tim has sung on several of his show concept albums, played the part of the Narrator in a studio recording of Joseph (1979) and has acted in productions of Joseph (Pharaoh). Tim has written the lyrics for songs for various performers including Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, David Essex, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Elaine Paige and Elvis Presley. Tim's work has won him numerous awards including 12 Ivor Novello awards, 3 Tonys, and 3 Oscars. Tim was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999. On 20 November 2008, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Tim was knighted by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 1994; maybe this will be immortalised as a musical?