Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

June 28, 1902 in New York City, NY

Death

:

December 30, 1979 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Richard Rodgers was an American composer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of musical theater in the 20th century. He was born on June 28, 1902, in New York City, to a Jewish family of German descent. His father, Dr. William Abrahams Rodgers, was a prominent physician, and his mother, Mamie Levy Rodgers, was a homemaker. Rodgers showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He attended the Professional Children's School in New York City, where he studied music theory and composition. In 1919, he enrolled at Columbia University, but he dropped out after two years to pursue a career in music. In 1920, Rodgers met Lorenz Hart, a lyricist, and the two began collaborating on musicals. Their first show, "Poor Little Ritz Girl," was produced in 1920, but it was not successful. They continued to work together, and in 1925, their musical "The Garrick Gaieties" was a hit. The show featured the song "Manhattan," which became a popular standard. Rodgers and Hart went on to write a series of successful musicals, including "A Connecticut Yankee" (1927), "Babes in Arms" (1937), and "Pal Joey" (1940). Their songs were known for their clever lyrics and catchy melodies, and they became some of the most popular songs of the era. In 1942, Rodgers began working with Oscar Hammerstein II, a lyricist and playwright. The two had previously worked together on a few projects, but they had never collaborated on a full musical. Their first show together, "Oklahoma!" (1943), was a groundbreaking musical that revolutionized the genre. The show featured a fully integrated score, in which the songs advanced the plot and revealed the characters' emotions. The show was a huge success and ran for over 2,200 performances on Broadway. Rodgers and Hammerstein went on to write a series of successful musicals, including "Carousel" (1945), "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). Their shows were known for their lush orchestrations, memorable melodies, and socially conscious themes. Rodgers continued to work in the theater throughout his career, but he also wrote music for films and television. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "It Might As Well Be Spring" from the film "State Fair" (1945), and he wrote the music for the television series "Victory at Sea" (1952-1953). Rodgers was married three times and had two daughters. He died on December 30, 1979, in New York City, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy of beloved songs and musicals that continue to be performed and enjoyed today.

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