Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 12, 1929 in Dallas, TX

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Harvey Schmidt was an American composer and writer, best known for his contributions to the world of musical theatre. Born on September 12, 1929, in Dallas, Texas, Schmidt grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the violin. Schmidt began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Schmidt attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied music composition. After graduating, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. In 1952, he met Tom Jones, a lyricist, and the two began collaborating on musicals. Their first collaboration was a musical called The Fantasticks, which premiered off-Broadway in 1960. The show was a huge success and ran for over 42 years, making it the longest-running musical in history. The Fantasticks tells the story of two young lovers who are separated by their feuding fathers. The show's score includes such memorable songs as "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain." Schmidt and Jones went on to collaborate on several other musicals, including 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, and Celebration. 110 in the Shade is based on the play The Rainmaker and tells the story of a woman who is looking for love in a small town during a drought. The show's score includes such songs as "Love, Don't Turn Away" and "Simple Little Things." I Do! I Do! is a two-person musical that follows a couple from their wedding day to their golden anniversary. The show's score includes such songs as "My Cup Runneth Over" and "What Is a Woman?" Celebration is a musical about a group of people who gather to celebrate the birthday of a famous artist. The show's score includes such songs as "Under the Tree" and "Fifty Million Years Ago." In addition to his work in musical theatre, Schmidt also composed music for television and film. He wrote the score for the 1970 film adaptation of 110 in the Shade, as well as the theme song for the television series Alice. Schmidt received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He won a Tony Award for Best Score for The Fantasticks in 1992, and he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2012, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild of America. Schmidt passed away on February 28, 2018, at the age of 88. His contributions to the world of musical theatre will be remembered for generations to come.

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