Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 27, 1908 in Hartford, CT

Death

:

October 26, 1993 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Harold Rome was an American composer and lyricist who was born on May 27, 1908, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged their son's interest in music from an early age. Rome began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a talent for composing music as a teenager. He attended New York University and studied music theory and composition. After graduating, he worked as a pianist and arranger for various Broadway shows. In 1937, Rome wrote the music and lyrics for his first Broadway show, "Pins and Needles," which was a revue about the labor movement. The show was a huge success and ran for over 1,100 performances, making it the longest-running musical of its time. Rome's songs from the show, such as "Sing Me a Song with Social Significance" and "Chain Store Daisy," became popular anthems for the labor movement. Rome continued to write music for Broadway shows throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In 1942, he wrote the music and lyrics for "Sing Out, Sweet Land," a patriotic revue that celebrated American history and culture. The show featured songs such as "This Land Is Your Land" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and was a hit with audiences. In 1948, Rome wrote the music and lyrics for "Call Me Mister," a musical comedy about the post-World War II military. The show featured songs such as "South America, Take It Away" and "I Love You, I Hate You." It was a critical and commercial success and ran for over 700 performances. Rome's most famous work is the musical "Fanny," which he wrote in 1954. The show was based on the Marcel Pagnol trilogy of plays and was set in Marseille, France. Rome wrote the music and lyrics for the show, which featured songs such as "Never Too Late for Love" and "Welcome Home." The show was a critical and commercial success and ran for over 888 performances. It was later adapted into a film in 1961, starring Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier. In addition to his work on Broadway, Rome also wrote music for films and television. He wrote the score for the 1951 film "Rich, Young and Pretty," which starred Jane Powell and Vic Damone. He also wrote the theme song for the television series "The Honeymooners," which aired from 1955 to 1956. Rome was known for his ability to write catchy tunes and witty lyrics. He often wrote about social and political issues, and his songs were popular with audiences who appreciated his satirical and humorous approach to serious topics. Rome continued to write music throughout the 1960s and 1970s, but his later works were not as successful as his earlier ones. He wrote the music and lyrics for the 1964 musical "I Can Get It for You Wholesale," which starred a young Barbra Streisand. The show was a moderate success but was overshadowed by the success of "Funny Girl," which Streisand starred in the following year. Rome's last Broadway show was "The Zulu and the Zayda," which he wrote in 1965. The show was a musical comedy about a Jewish grandfather and his African-American grandson. It was a critical and commercial failure and closed after only 100 performances. Despite the mixed success of his later works, Rome's contributions to American musical theater were significant. He was a pioneer in writing musicals about social and political issues, and his songs continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences today.

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