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This article is about the American composer. For the British architect, see Richard Rogers. Richard George Rogers Baron Rogers of Riverside, CH, FRIBA (born 23 July 1933) is a British Architect noted
Richard Rodgers
With Lorenz Hart in 1936.
With Lorenz Hart in 1936. Lorenz "Larry" Hart ( May 2, 1895 &ndash November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team
Background information
Birth nameRichard Charles Rodgers
BornJune 28, 1902
New York City, New York
DiedDecember 30, 1979 (aged 77)
New York City, New York
Occupation(s)composer, songwriter, playwright

Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902, Arverne, Queens, New York City – December 30, 1979, New York City) was an American composer of the music for more than 900 songs and 40 Broadway musicals. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The City of New York Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The City of New York A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or Drama. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Arverne is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, on the Rockaway Peninsula. The City of New York Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Musical composition is an original piece of Music the structure of a musical piece the process of creating a new Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. A lyricist is a Writer who specializes in Song Lyrics, usually paid for by a band to write a custom song(s Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership consisting of the composer Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and the lyricist Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo His compositions have had a significant impact on popular music down to the present day, and have an enduring broad appeal. Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more

Rodgers and Marvin Hamlisch are the only persons to have won an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony Award, and Pulitzer Prize. Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (born June 2, 1944) is an American Composer. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism,

Contents

Life and career

Born into a prosperous Jewish family, Richard Rodgers was the son of Will Rodgers, a prominent physician who had changed the family name from Rojazinsky, and Mamie Levy. Richard began playing the piano at age six. He attended P. S. 10, Townsend Harris Hall and DeWitt Clinton High School. DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, and Rodgers's later collaborator Oscar Hammerstein II all attended Columbia University. Lorenz "Larry" Hart ( May 2, 1895 &ndash November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. In 1921, Rodgers shifted his studies to the Institute of Musical Art (now Juilliard). The Juilliard School, located in New York City, is a world renowned Performing arts conservatory. [1] Rodgers was influenced by composers like Victor Herbert and Jerome Kern, as well as by the operettas his parents took him to see on Broadway when he was a child. Victor August Herbert ( February 1 1859 &ndash May 26 1924) was a Cellist, conductor and Composer best known Jerome David Kern ( January 27, 1885 &ndash November 11, 1945) was an American Composer of popular music Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located

Work with Hart

Main article: Rodgers and Hart

In 1919, Richard met Lorenz Hart, thanks to Phillip Leavitt, a friend of Richard's older brother. Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership consisting of the composer Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and the lyricist Lorenz "Larry" Hart ( May 2, 1895 &ndash November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart struggled for years in the field of musical comedy, writing a number of amateur shows. Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership consisting of the composer Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and the lyricist They made their professional debut with the song "Any Old Place With You", featured in the 1919 Broadway musical comedy A Lonely Romeo. Their first professional production was the 1920 Poor Little Ritz Girl. Their next professional show, The Melody Man, did not premier until 1924.

Rodgers was considering quitting show business altogether to sell children's underwear, when he and Hart finally broke through in 1925. They wrote the songs for a benefit show presented by the prestigious Theatre Guild, called The Garrick Gaieties, and the critics found the show fresh and delightful. The Theatre Guild is a theatrical society founded in New York City in 1919 by Theresa Helburn, Lawrence Langner, and Armina Marshall The Garrick Gaieties was a revue which opened on Broadway on May 17, 1925, at the Garrick Theatre was first of a long line of musicals Only meant to run one day, the Guild knew they had a success and allowed it to re-open later. The show's biggest hit, the song that Rodgers believed "made" Rodgers and Hart, was "Manhattan. "Manhattan" is a popular Song. It has been performed by Lee Wiley, Blossom Dearie and Ella Fitzgerald, among others " The two were now a Broadway songwriting force.

Throughout the rest of the decade, the duo wrote several hit shows for both Broadway and London, including Dearest Enemy (1925), The Girl Friend (1926), Peggy-Ann (1926), A Connecticut Yankee (1927), and Present Arms (1928). Dearest Enemy is a musical with a book by Herbert Fields, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and music by Richard Rodgers. The Girl Friend is a Broadway Musical comedy that opened December 27, 1926, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Peggy-Ann is a Broadway musical comedy that opened December 27, 1926, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Present Arms is a Broadway musical comedy that opened April 26, 1928, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Their 1920s shows produced standards such as "Here In My Arms", "Mountain Greenery", "Blue Room", "My Heart Stood Still" and "You Took Advantage of Me. " Here In My Arms " is a popular Song. The music was written by Richard Rodgers, the lyrics by Lorenz Hart. " Mountain Greenery " is a popular Song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical The Garrick " Blue Room " is a Show tune from the 1926 Rodgers and Hart musical The Girl Friend, where it was introduced by Eva Puck " My Heart Stood Still " is a 1927 popular Song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical A Connecticut " You Took Advantage of Me " is a 1928 popular Song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical "

With the Depression in full swing during the first half of the 1930s, the team sought greener pastures in Hollywood. The hardworking Rodgers later regretted these relatively fallow years, but he and Hart did write a number of classic songs and film scores while out west, including Love Me Tonight (1932) (directed by Rouben Mamoulian, who would later direct Rodgers' Oklahoma! on Broadway) which introduced three standards: "Lover", "Mimi", and "Isn't It Romantic?. This is an article about a film For the song see Love Me Tonight (song Love Me Tonight is a 1932 Musical comedy film Rouben Mamoulian ( October 8, 1897 &ndash December 4, 1987) was an Armenian - American film and Theatre Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. "Lover" is a popular Song written by Richard Rodgers, with words by Lorenz Hart. "Mimi" is a popular Song written by Richard Rodgers, with words by Lorenz Hart. "Isn't It Romantic?" is a popular Song and part of the Great American Songbook. " Rodgers also wrote a melody for which Hart wrote three consecutive lyrics that did not fly. The fourth lyric resulted in one of their most famous songs, "Blue Moon. " Blue Moon " is a classic popular song. It was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934, and has become a standard Ballad " Other film work includes the scores to The Phantom President (1932), starring George M. Cohan, Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933), starring Al Jolson, and, in a quick return after having left Hollywood, Mississippi (1935), starring Bing Crosby and W.C. Fields. George Michael Cohan ( July 3, 1878 &ndash November 5, 1942) was a United States Entertainer, Playwright, Al Jolson (May 26 1886 October 23 1950 born in Lithuania, Russian Empire, was a highly acclaimed American singer comedian and actor and the first openly Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby ( May 3, 1903 &ndash October 14, 1977) was an Academy Award winning American Popular W C Fields ( January 29, 1880 &ndash December 25, 1946) was an American Juggler, Comedian, and Actor

In 1935, they returned to Broadway and began writing with a vengeance, resulting in an almost unbroken string of hit shows that ended only with Hart's death in 1943. Among the most notable are Jumbo (1935), On Your Toes (1936, which included the ballet "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue", choreographed by George Balanchine), Babes In Arms (1937), I Married an Angel (1938), The Boys From Syracuse (1938), Pal Joey (1940), and their last original work, By Jupiter (1942). Jumbo is a musical produced by Billy Rose, with music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and book by Ben Hecht On Your Toes (1936 is a musical with a book by Richard Rodgers, George Abbott, and Lorenz Hart, music by Rodgers and lyrics Babes in Arms is a 1937 Musical theater production which tells the story of a boy who puts on a show to avoid being sent to a work farm I Married An Angel is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Rodgers and Hart. The Boys from Syracuse is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, based on William Shakespeare 's play The Pal Joey is a musical with a book written by John O'Hara and music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. By Jupiter is a musical with a book by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, music by Rodgers and lyrics by Hart Rodgers also contributed to the book on several of these shows.

Many of the songs from these shows are still sung and remembered, including "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", "My Romance", "Little Girl Blue", "There's a Small Hotel", "Where or When", "My Funny Valentine", "The Lady Is a Tramp", "Falling In Love With Love", "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", and "Wait Till You See Her. " Little Girl Blue " is a popular Song with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, published in 1935. " There's a Small Hotel " is a 1936 popular Song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart originally written for but dropped " Where or When " is a Show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes In Arms. For the album by Miles Davis see My Funny Valentine (album " My Funny Valentine " is a Show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and " The Lady Is a Tramp " is a Show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes In Arms. "Falling in Love with Love" is a Show tune from the 1921 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse (1938 where it " Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered " (correct title is "Bewitched" is a Show tune and popular song from the 1940 Rodgers and Hart "Wait till You See Her" (or sung by a female "Wait till You See Him") is a popular Song. "

Work with Hammerstein

Main article: Rodgers and Hammerstein

His partnership with Hart coming to an end because of the latter's declining health, Rodgers began working with Oscar Hammerstein II, with whom he had previously written a number of songs (before ever working with Lorenz Hart). Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Their first musical, the groundbreaking hit, Oklahoma! (1943), marked the beginning of the most successful partnership in musical theatre history. Their work revolutionized the form. What was once a collection of songs, dances and comic turns held together by a tenuous plot became an integrated work of art.

The team went on to create four more hits that are among the most popular of all musicals and were each made into successful films, Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949, a Pulitzer Prize winner), The King And I (1951), and The Sound Of Music (1959). Carousel is a musical by Richard Rodgers (music and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics that was adapted from Ferenc Molnar South Pacific is a musical, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by both Hammerstein and Joshua The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay Other shows include the minor hit, Flower Drum Song (1958), as well as relative failures Allegro (1947), Me And Juliet (1953) and Pipe Dream (1955). Flower Drum Song is a musical written by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein, based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Chinese American Allegro is a theatre musical by Richard Rodgers (music and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics their fourth collaboration together Me and Juliet is a musical comedy written by Richard Rodgers (music and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics and book Pipe Dream is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. They also wrote the score to the movie State Fair (1945) and a special TV production of Cinderella (1957). State Fair is a 1945 film directed by Walter Lang. The film is a Remake of the 1933 film of the same name. Rodgers and Hammerstein 's Cinderella is a musical written for Television by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

Their collaboration produced many well-known songs, including "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'", "People Will Say We're In Love", "If I Loved You", "You'll Never Walk Alone", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Some Enchanted Evening", "Getting To Know You", "My Favorite Things", "The Sound of Music", "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", "Do-Re-Mi", and "Edelweiss", Hammerstein's last song. " Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' " is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist "People Will Say We're In Love" is a Show tune from the (1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. "If I Loved You" is a Show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. " You'll Never Walk Alone " is a Show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. "It Might as Well Be Spring" is a song from the 1945 film State Fair. " Some Enchanted Evening " is a Show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. " The Sound of Music " is the title Song from The Sound of Music, composed by Richard Rodgers to lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein " Sixteen Going on Seventeen " is a Show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. " Climb Ev'ry Mountain " is a Show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. "Do-Re-Mi" is a Show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. "Edelweiss" is a Show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.

Much of Rodgers's work with both Hart and Hammerstein was orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett. Robert Russell Bennett ( June 15, 1894 – August 18, 1981)was an American Composer and Arranger, best Rodgers composed twelve themes which Bennett scored for the 26-episode World War II television documentary "Victory at Sea" (1952-53). World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Victory at Sea was a documentary TV series about naval warfare during World War II that was originally aired by NBC in the This NBC production pioneered the "compilation documentary"--programming based on pre-existing footage--and was eventually broadcast in dozens of countries. Rodgers won an Emmy for the theme music for the ABC documentary Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years, scored by Eddie Sauter and Robert Emmett Dolan.

In 1950, Rodgers and Hammerstein received The Hundred Year Association of New York's Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York. Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo The Hundred Year Association of New York, founded in 1927 is a Non-profit organization in New York City aimed at recognizing and rewarding dedication and service "

In 1954, Rodgers conducted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in excerpts from Victory at Sea, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue and the Carousel Waltz for a special LP released by Columbia Records. The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active Symphony Orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842 Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company

Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals earned a total of 35 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, two Grammy Awards, and two Emmy Awards. Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism, The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

After Hammerstein

After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers wrote both words and music for his first new Broadway project No Strings (1962, which earned two Tony Awards). No Strings is a musical Drama with a book by Samuel A Taylor and words and music by Richard Rodgers, his only score written without The show was a minor hit and featured perhaps his last great song, "The Sweetest Sounds. " The Sweetest Sounds " is a popular Song, written by Richard Rodgers (unlike most of his compositions writing both music and lyrics for the " He went on to work with lyricists Stephen Sondheim (protege of Hammerstein), Sheldon Harnick, and Martin Charnin, with uneven results. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Sheldon Harnick (born April 30, 1924) is an American Lyricist best known for his collaborations with Composer Jerry Bock Martin Charnin (born November 24, 1934) is an American Lyricist, writer and Theatre director.

At its 1978 commencement ceremonies, Barnard College awarded Rodgers its highest honor, the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Barnard College is a women's liberal arts college founded in 1889 The following is a list of notable individuals associated with Barnard College through attendance as a student service as a member of the faculty or staff or award of the Barnard Medal

Richard Rodgers died in 1979 at age 77 after surviving cancer of the jaw, a heart attack, and a laryngectomy. In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed "The Richard Rodgers Theatre" in his memory. In 1999, Rodgers and Hart were each commemorated on United States postage stamps. 2002 was the centennial year of Rodgers's birth, celebrated worldwide with books, retrospectives, performances, new recordings of his music, and a Broadway revival of Oklahoma!.

Several American schools are named after Richard Rodgers. Richard Rodgers School refers to several schools named after the American composer Richard Rodgers, including PS 96 Richard Rodgers School

Critical reputation

Alec Wilder wrote the following about Rodgers:

Of all the writers whose songs are considered and examined in this book, those of Rodgers show the highest degree of consistent excellence, inventiveness, and sophistication. Alec Wilder (born Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder in Rochester, New York, February 16 1907 d . . [A]fter spending weeks playing his songs, I am more than impressed and respectful: I am astonished. [2]

Family

In 1930, Rodgers married Dorothy Belle Feiner. Their daughter, Mary, is the composer of Once Upon a Mattress and an author of children's books. Mary Rodgers (born January 11, 1931) is an American Composer of musicals an author of children's books and the daughter of Broadway Once Upon a Mattress is a musical Comedy that opened Off-Broadway on May 11, 1959, and then moved to Broadway Rodgers' grandson, Adam Guettel, also a musical theatre composer, won Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations for The Light in the Piazza in 2005. Adam Guettel (pronounced Gettle) (b 1965 is an American Musical theater Composer and Lyricist best known for 2005's The The Light in the Piazza is a musical with a book by Craig Lucas and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel. Peter Melnick, another grandson, is the composer of Adrift In Macao, which debuted at the Philadelphia Theatre Company in 2005 and was produced Off Broadway in 2007. Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City.

Shows with music by Rodgers

Hart as lyricist

Hammerstein as lyricist

Other lyricists and solo works

Wider influence

Footnotes

  1. ^ Musical Stages: An Autobiography (2002 Reissue), Richard Rodgers, pp. 12,20-21,44, DaCapo Press, ISBN 0306811340
  2. ^ Wilder, Alec, 1973. American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950 Oxford University Press: 163. ISBN 0-19-501445-6

References

External links

The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel
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