A Buffalo music legend

David Shire conducts the BPO this weekend.

Acclaimed composer and Oscar and Grammy winner David Shire will conduct the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra when a Buffalo Legends Pops Concert is held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Kleinhans Music Hall.

Shire will be joined by singers Lynne Wintersteller and Mary Kate O'Connell, and saxophonist Bobby Militello in the concert featuring selections from his music for stage, screen and recordings.

Militello, one of Buffalo's best-known jazz artists, will be featured in the premiere of "Shades of Blue," a new concert jazz suite written by Shire.

Shire has scored music for films such as "The Conversation," "All the President's Men," "The Hindenburg," original music for "Saturday Night Fever," "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," and others. He received the Oscar in 1980 for Best Song for "It Goes Like It Goes," the title song for the film "Norma Rae."

Shire's musical theatre work includes the two off-Broadway reviews "Starting Here, Starting Now" and "Closer Than Ever," and two Broadway shows "Baby" (Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Score) and "Big" (Tony nomination for Best Score).

Shire's television scores have earned six Emmy nominations, and he has scored more than a hundred television movies. Shire's songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Billy Preston, Pearl Bailey and others.

For tickets, call the BPO box office at 885-5000 or visit www.bpo.org.