Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 11, 1931 in New York City, NY

Death

:

June 27, 2014 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Mary Rodgers was an American composer and author, born on January 11, 1931, in New York City. She was the daughter of Richard Rodgers, a famous composer, and Dorothy Feiner Rodgers, a socialite and philanthropist. Mary grew up in a musical family and was exposed to music from an early age. She began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the guitar and the accordion. Mary attended the Brearley School in New York City and later went on to study at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She graduated in 1951 with a degree in English literature. After college, Mary worked as a writer and editor for various magazines, including Mademoiselle and Harper's Bazaar. In the 1950s, Mary began to pursue a career in music. She wrote the lyrics for several songs, including "The Boy From..." and "Hey, Love," which were recorded by various artists. In 1959, Mary wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "Once Upon a Mattress," which was a huge success. The show ran for 244 performances and earned Mary a Tony Award nomination for Best Composer and Lyricist. Mary went on to write the music and lyrics for several other musicals, including "Hot Spot" (1963), "The Mad Show" (1966), and "Working" (1978). She also wrote the music for the television special "Feathertop" (1961) and the film "The Revenge of the Stepford Wives" (1980). In addition to her work as a composer, Mary was also an author. She wrote several children's books, including "Freaky Friday" (1972), which was later adapted into a film starring Jodie Foster. Mary also wrote the book "A Gift of Time" (1981), which chronicled her experience caring for her son Adam, who was born with a severe neurological disorder. Mary was known for her ability to write catchy, upbeat songs with clever lyrics. Her music was often compared to that of her father, Richard Rodgers, but Mary had her own unique style. She was also known for her generosity and her commitment to social causes. She was a founding member of the Creative Arts Rehabilitation Center, which provided arts programs for people with disabilities. Mary died on June 26, 2014, at the age of 83. She is survived by her husband, Henry Guettel, and her children, Adam and Alec. Mary's legacy as a composer and author lives on through her work, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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