Then there was James' affair with Forrest, which gave Tobin a nervous breakdown, Levinson said. For someone close to James, Levinson doesn't hide the trumpeter's many warts. As a longtime publicist, Levinson knows good dirt makes for a good story. But he digs up the dirt in measured strokes - though at times when Levinson inserts himself into the story, it feels a bit awkward. James continued to live hard and play well up to his death from cancer July 5, 1983.
Stars think it's never going to end.
Now Levinson is writing a biography about famed orchestra leader Nelson Riddle. And as his appearance on Jim Lowe's show proved, he's found subject matter that clicks with people in their 50s, 60s and 70s. They don't hear the music they grew up on. They don't find the big bands. If you experience any problems with the Daily News Web site, please let us know.