Barbra Streisand Shares Richard Perry Tribute: ‘Truly Special Person’

Barbra Streisand celebrated Richard Perry’s “uncanny ability to pick the hits” in a tribute to the late producer, who died this week at the age of 82.

Streisand worked with Perry on two albums, Stoney End and Barbra Joan Streisand, both of which came out in 1971. As Streisand noted in her tribute, it was Perry who “encouraged [her] to record contemporary songs” after building her career largely on standards. And the two records they made contained several successful singles, none more so than Streisand’s version of the Laura Nyro-penned “Stoney End,” which peaked at Number Six on the Hot 100. 

“It was exciting to explore that kind of material with him,” Streisand wrote. “By the way, Richard thought Laura Nyro’s ‘Stoney End’ would be a hit for me, and I thought he was nuts! I was so happy to be proven wrong!”

Along with his song selection skills, Streisand praised Perry’s “wonderful sense of humor,” recalling how much fun they had in the studio and their “life-long” friendship. She closed by saying, “He was a truly special person and I’m so grateful our paths crossed. Rest in musical peace Richard.”