Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

June 29, 1910 in New York City, NY

Death

:

July 26, 1969 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Frank Loesser was an American composer and lyricist who was born on June 29, 1910, in New York City. He was the youngest of four children born to Henry Loesser, a pianist and music teacher, and Julia Ehrlich Loesser, a homemaker. Loesser grew up in a musical household and began playing the piano at a young age. He attended City College of New York but dropped out after two years to pursue a career in music. Loesser began his career as a songwriter in the 1930s, writing lyrics for popular songs such as "Heart and Soul" and "Two Sleepy People." He also wrote the music and lyrics for several Broadway shows, including "Where's Charley?" (1948) and "Guys and Dolls" (1950). "Guys and Dolls" was a huge success and won Loesser a Tony Award for Best Musical. In 1950, Loesser wrote the music and lyrics for the film "Hans Christian Andersen," which starred Danny Kaye. The film was a box office success and earned Loesser an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Baby, It's Cold Outside." The song has since become a holiday classic and has been covered by numerous artists. Loesser continued to write music for Broadway shows throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including "The Most Happy Fella" (1956) and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1961). "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" won Loesser a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1962. In addition to his work in musical theater, Loesser also wrote songs for films and television. He wrote the music and lyrics for the film "The Perils of Pauline" (1947) and the television special "The Frank Sinatra Show" (1950). He also wrote the theme song for the television series "The Danny Thomas Show" (1953-1964). Loesser was known for his clever lyrics and catchy melodies. His songs often had a humorous or satirical edge, and he was skilled at writing both ballads and up-tempo numbers. He was also known for his ability to write songs that were tailored to the specific talents of the performers who would be singing them. Loesser was married twice and had four children. He died on July 28, 1969, in New York City at the age of 59. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. Some of Loesser's most famous songs include "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" from "Guys and Dolls," "I Believe in You" from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from "Neptune's Daughter." His music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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