Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

June 14, 1929 in Bronx, NY

Death

:

November 18, 2004 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Cy Coleman was an American composer, songwriter, and pianist who was born on June 14, 1929, in New York City. He was born Seymour Kaufman to Eastern European Jewish immigrants, and he grew up in the Bronx. His parents were not musical, but they encouraged their son's interest in music. Coleman began playing the piano at the age of six, and he showed a natural talent for the instrument. Coleman attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City, where he studied piano and composition. After graduating, he attended New York University, where he studied music theory and composition. He also studied jazz piano with Teddy Wilson, a renowned jazz pianist. In the 1950s, Coleman began working as a pianist and arranger for various jazz bands and singers. He played with such luminaries as Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. He also worked as a staff composer for music publishers, writing songs for popular singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Peggy Lee. In the 1960s, Coleman began to focus on composing for the theater. He wrote the music for his first Broadway show, Wildcat, in 1960. The show starred Lucille Ball, and it was not a critical success, but it did feature the song "Hey, Look Me Over," which became a hit. Coleman's next Broadway show was Little Me, which opened in 1962. The show was a success, and it earned Coleman his first Tony Award nomination for Best Composer and Lyricist. The show featured the songs "I've Got Your Number" and "Real Live Girl," which became popular standards. In 1964, Coleman wrote the music for Sweet Charity, which was based on the Federico Fellini film Nights of Cabiria. The show starred Gwen Verdon, and it was a critical and commercial success. The show featured the songs "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," and "The Rhythm of Life," which became popular standards. Sweet Charity earned Coleman his first Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist. Coleman continued to write for the theater throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote the music for such shows as Seesaw (1973), I Love My Wife (1977), and On the Twentieth Century (1978). He also wrote the music for the film version of Sweet Charity, which was released in 1969. In the 1980s, Coleman began to focus on writing for television and film. He wrote the music for the television series The Colbys and the film Garbo Talks (1984). He also wrote the music for the Broadway show Barnum (1980), which starred Jim Dale. In the 1990s, Coleman returned to the theater with the show The Will Rogers Follies (1991). The show was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Coleman his second Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist. The show featured the songs "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like" and "Our Favorite Son." Coleman continued to write for the theater throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He wrote the music for such shows as City of Angels (1989), The Life (1997), and Like Jazz (2003). He also wrote the music for the film version of The Life, which was released in 1999. Coleman was known for his ability to write catchy melodies and witty lyrics. He was also known for his versatility, as he was able to write in a variety of styles, from jazz to pop to Broadway. His music was often characterized by its energy and humor. Coleman was married three times and had three children. He died on November 18, 2004, in New York City, at the age of 75.

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