Graduated Columbia University (1967)

Created New York cabaret Reno Sweeney (1972-1977) and New York rock club s.n.a.f.u. (1980-1984)

An accomplished pianist and composer, Lewis Friedman also had a remarkable gift for recognizing and encouraging talented performers. He created the trend-setting New York cabaret Reno Sweeney, which he owned and operated from 1972 to 1977 with his friend and business partner, Eliot Hubbard.

Hubbard remembers that "Lew's first project as an owner and entrepreneur was a small burger-based restaurant...in the West Village, called Bellybutton (I chose the name). The baked goods Lew sold there were so popular that he soon opened a small bakeshop next door—called Navel Reserve (named that too). The success of those two titular 'collaborations' ultimately led Lew to ask me to work with him when he decided to create a nightclub..."

As the late Vito Russo wrote, "Once upon a time, a club in Manhattan called Reno Sweeney was the center of the universe during the now-legendary cabaret revival of the early ‘70s. Everybody who was anybody either played its famous Paradise Room or sat in the audience to watch."

Russo was not exaggerating. In those five years Friedman presented a tremendous range of artists, many at the start of their careers:

Karen Akers Donnybrook Alderson Peter Allen Maxine Andrews (of the Andrews Sisters) John C. Attle Keith Avedon Tony Azito Keith Barrow Edith Beale Sammy Benskin Eric Bentley Tracey Berg Brenda Bergman Andy Bey Karen Bihari Diane Bulgarelli Stephan Burns Michael Callen Cab Calloway Captain & Tennille Rik Carlock Rev. Al Carmines (of Judson Memorial Church) Craig Carnelia Nell Carter Cathy Chamberlain's Rag 'N Roll Revue Marshall Chapman Barbara Cook Liz Corrigan Charlotte Crossley Clifton Davis Andre De Shields Blossom Dearie Jackie Deshannon Desmond Child & Rouge Trey Christopher Chance Cohen Judith Cohen Barbara Cook Quentin Crisp Jackie Curtis Jimmy Daniels Richard Davis Karla DaVito Blossom Dearie Baby Jane Dexter Ethyl Eichelberger Michael Federal Fonda Feingold Geraldine Fitzgerald Gregory Fleeman Leopoldo Fleming Ellen Foley David Forman Lewis Friedman (Lou Tattoo) Leata Galloway Toni Garon Ella Garrett Dana Gillespie Gotham Stephane Grappelli Diana Grasselli Ellen Greene Lesley Gore Joan Hackett Marvin Hamlisch The Harlettes Joy Hatton Michael Haynes Tiger Haynes Ula Hedwig

Marta Heflin Daphne Hellman & Hellman's Angels Nona Hendryx Nick Holmes Linda Hopkins Lee Horwin Janis Ian Paul Jabara Garland Jeffreys Gail Kantor Diane Keaton Sally Kellerman Lynn Kellogg Laura Kenyon Teddi King David Lasley Phoebe Legere Peter Link Charles Ludlam & Black-Eyed Susan Raun MacKinnon Marsha Malamet Melissa Manchester Andrea Marcovicci Diana Marcovitz Meatloaf Kim Milford Penelope Milford Michael Moriarty Martin Mull Novella Nelson Anita O'Day Odetta Jane Olivor John Phillips & Genevieve Waite Zora Rasmussen Genya Ravan Sharon Redd Alaina Reed Martha Reeves (of Martha and the Vandellas) Betty Rhodes Bruce Roberts Denise Rogers Royal Canadian Fromage Robert I. Rubinsky Camille Saviola Martha Schlamme Helen Schneider Robbie Seidman Marc Shaiman Ellen Shipley Patti Smith Phoebe Snow Marilyn Sokol Jim Steinman Terri Thornton The Manhattan Transfer Linda Twine Myriam Valle Luther Vandross Cherry Vanilla Carol Ventura Maria Vidal Bruce Vilanche Tom Waits Jackie Washington Murray Weinstock Jennifer Welles Debbie Whiting Allee Willis Georgia Wise Holly Woodlawn Don Paul Yowell

In 1980 Friedman opened the Manhattan rock club s.n.a.f.u., which he operated for four years.

In 1984 he moved to Sonoma County in California, where he owned and operated the Sweet Life Café, a popular coffee house and antique shop, in Santa Rosa.

Lewis Friedman died of AIDS in Cazadero, California at the age of 47 on January 3, 1992.

—Nurit Tilles

WORKS:

SONGS

Abandon Myself
Add Up The Moments
After The Fall
Alone Without You
Baby Can We Get It Right
Can You Recall
Drunken Roads (lyrics by Stephan Burns)
Fool I Am (Lewis Friedman/Trey Christopher)
Forever Again
Goin' Home
Good Soft Cry
The Greatest Show In Town
Here We Go Again
I Am The Guy
I Got Dreams Too
I Hear An Army
I Only Love You For Your Bod
I Remember
It's Not You Girl
Karen
Love Brings You Pain (lyrics by Stephan Burns)
Love Conquers All
Memories
Out Of The Sighs (lyrics by Dylan Thomas)
The Promise Suite
Put The Love Back On Your Face
Radio To Video
Requiem
Run With Me
Secret Life
Shadow Of A Man
Tender Are My Nights
Time After Time
Times Gone By
Trouble In Tahiti Tonight
What Gives
What It Is You Do To Me
Who Needs You
Without A Song

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:
No professionally released recordings

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Obituary, New York Times, January 8, 1992.
• Obituary, San Francisco Chronicle, January 9, 1992.
• "Relived Glory: Reno Sweeney's Legendary Alumni Stage Reunion for AIDS" by Vito Russo, The Advocate (date unknown).
• "Remembering Reno's: Paradise Lost on 13th Street" by Eliot Hubbard, The Village Voice, July 23-29, 1980.
• "New Supper Club in Greenwich Village Swims Against the Tide" by Tom Buckley (longarticle), New York Times, Friday, February 23, 1973.
• "Reno Sweeney," New Yorker, January 27, 1973.
• "Thinking of Lewis" by Greg Dawson, founder of The Ballroom (unpublished tribute to Lewis Friedman, 2003).

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
Unknown

RESOURCES:
Unknown

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Sarann Friedman Rice (sister)
3100 Haney Road
Dayton, OH 45405
(937) 275-3745 (home)
(937) 219-7923 (cell)
sfr666@earthlink.net

OTHER CONTACTS:
Eliot Selznick Hubbard (friend and business partner)
67 Greene Street #5
New York, NY 10012-4326
(212) 966-7803
hubhead@nyc.rr.com

Bruce W. Aukerman (companion)
1000 Cazadero Highway
Cazadero, CA 95421
(707) 632-5420

ARCHIVES:
With Sarann Friedman Rice (see Musical Executor).

Bruce Aukerman has tapes and videos with songs by Friedman.

A portfolio of approximately 50 Reno Sweeney posters designed by Eliot Hubbard, Robert Richards and other artists is being donated by Hubbard to the Billy Rose Collections at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Hubbard also has some feature articles and other memorabilia. (A complete scrapbook of Reno Sweeney reviews and letters from artists was sold in 1978 to the new owner, now deceased; whereabouts of scrapbook are unknown.)