Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers

  • Birthday: 1902-06-28
  • Deathday: 1979-12-30
  • Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA
  • Also know as: Richard Rogers

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer of music, with over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant composers of 20th century American music. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. His compositions have had a significant impact on popular music. Rodgers was the first person to win what are considered the top American entertainment awards in television, recording, movies and Broadway – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award — now known collectively as an EGOT. In addition, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize, making him only one of two people to receive each award (Marvin Hamlisch is the other). Rodgers died in 1979 at the age of 77, after surviving cancer of the jaw, a heart attack, and a laryngectomy. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea. In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed "The Richard Rodgers Theatre" in his memory. In 1999, Rodgers and Hart were each commemorated on United States postage stamps. In 2002, the centennial year of Rodgers's birth was celebrated worldwide with books, retrospectives, performances, new recordings of his music, and a Broadway revival of Oklahoma!. The BBC Proms that year devoted an entire evening to Rodgers's music, including a concert performance of Oklahoma! The Boston Pops Orchestra released a new CD that year in tribute to Rodgers, entitled My Favorite Things: A Richard Rodgers Celebration. Several American schools are named after Richard Rodgers. Alec Wilder wrote the following about Rodgers: "Of all the writers whose songs are considered and examined in this book, those of Rodgers show the highest degree of consistent excellence, inventiveness, and sophistication...[A]fter spending weeks playing his songs, I am more than impressed and respectful: I am astonished." Richard Rodgers is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame. Along with the Academy of Arts and Letters, Rodgers also started and endowed an award for non-established musical theater composers to produce new productions either by way of full productions or staged readings. It is the only award for which the Academy of Arts and Letters accepts applications and is presented every year. Below are the previous winners of the award

Filmography

Production

Cinderella

1965

As Executive Producer

Annie Get Your Gun

1967

As Producer

Victory at Sea

1954

As Music Score Producer

South Pacific

1958

As Music

Carousel

1956

As Music

Cinderella

1997

As Music

Gaby

1956

As Music

Evergreen

1934

As Original Music Composer

The King and I

2018

As Music

Pal Joey

1957

As Music

Oklahoma!

1955

As Music

The Sound of Music

1965

As Songs

Flower Drum Song

1961

As Songs

Dearest Enemy

1955

As Songs

Manhattan Melodrama

1934

As Songs

The Sound of Music

1965

As Music

Cinderella

1957

As Songs

Cinderella

1965

As Original Music Composer

Cinderella

1965

As Songs

Hollywood Party

1934

As Original Music Composer

Cinderella

1957

As Music

Oklahoma! (Takarazuka)

2006

As Original Music Composer

Oklahoma!

1955

As Songs

Carousel

1956

As Songs

South Pacific

1958

As Songs

South Pacific

2001

As Songs

The King and I

1956

As Songs

The King and I

1999

As Songs

State Fair

1945

As Songs

State Fair

1962

As Songs

Cinderella

1997

As Songs

Carousel

1967

As Songs

Love Me Tonight

1932

As Songs

Babes in Arms

1939

As Songs

Pal Joey

1957

As Songs

Words and Music

1948

As Songs

The King and I

2018

As Songs

Billy Rose's Jumbo

1962

As Songs

Dancing Pirate

1936

As Songs

Love Me or Leave Me

1955

As Songs

Dancing Lady

1933

As Songs

I Married an Angel

1942

As Songs

On Your Toes

1939

As Music

On Your Toes

1939

As Songs

South Pacific

0000

As Music

Cinderella

1997

As Original Music Composer

South Pacific

1958

As Theatre Play

On Your Toes

1939

As Theatre Play

Carousel

1956

As Musical

Oklahoma!

1955

As Musical

The Sound of Music

1965

As Lyricist

Babes in Arms

1939

As Theatre Play

Oklahoma!

1999

As Musical

South Pacific

2010

As Musical

Hollywood Party

1934

As Lyricist

Oklahoma!

2011

As Musical

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