(born 1942) Streisand’s appearance in Broadway’s “I Can Get it For You Wholesale” (1960) showcased her to New York City audiences as a singer of intensity and a comedian who utilized her Jewish upbringing for her persona. After a short-lived television show in the 1960s, she went on to a major career as an actor, beginning with Funny Girl (1968).

Streisand is now also a director and producer (Yentl, 1983; The Mirror Has Two Faces, 1996), but has maintained her presence as a singer of ballads with a distinctive interpretation, never shying away from the sentiment of the song. This quality has made her not only a favorite among New Yorkers, but has also helped her keep her devoted gay following.