"Baby's Broadway Lullabies," available online and at specialty stores such as Footlight in New York, features Graff singing gentle arrangements created and performed by husband Ben Lanzarone. The couple met when Graff was in Grease in the 1970s, when Lanzarone was musical director. The album offers 10 vocal tracks followed by gentle instrumentals meant to send children to slumberland. The disc includes "Lullaby of Broadway," "Tomorrow," "Starlight Express," "Toyland," "Music of the Night," "They Were You," "Tender Shepherd," "Distant Melody," "Castle on a Cloud" and "Goodnight My Someone."
The idea for the project "was born from our treasured bedtime routine with our daughter, Nikka," Graff writes in liner notes. "Before playing the mom on 'Mr. Belvedere,' I started my career on Broadway as a musical theatre performer so when it was time for lullabies, I sang Nikka the music I loved best — beautiful songs from Broadway shows." Nikki, at age six, is heard singing a "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" countermelody on the "Music of the Night" track. Nikka is now studying musical theatre at Boston Conservatory.
For more information, visit www.ilenegraff.com.