Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers ( born June 28, 1902 in New York, USA, † December 30, 1979 ) was an American composer.
Life
Richard Rodgers grew up in a musical family in New York. His grandparents, who loved the opera, her grandson took often to Broadway. He was influenced in these early years of the operetta by Victor Herbert and the songs of Jerome Kern.
In 1919 he met Lorenz Hart know at Columbia University, where her long association with the production of students shows began. The first Broadway success was the revue The Garrick Gaieties (1925 ) with the hit " Manhattan ." After that, Rodgers and Hart developed into one of the most prolific and successful team on Broadway. From 1931 to 1935 she worked in Hollywood for the film. "Blue Moon" ( Manhattan Melodrama (1934 ) ) is one of the most famous songs from this period. Upon her return to New York, she wrote a musical hit after another - from Jumbo and On Your Toes to Pal Joey and By Jupiter. In the early 1940s there were professional differences between the two, also Hart had major health problems. 1943 ended their cooperation by Hart's early death.
Already in the same year Rodgers ' collaboration began with Oscar Hammerstein to the musical Oklahoma!. Most of the jobs created by Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals are among the greatest of Broadway history: Carousel, which contains one of her most famous songs "You'll Never Walk Alone ", then South Pacific, The King and I, Flower Drum Song and - their most successful musical The sound of Music with such songs as "The Sound of Music ", " My Favorite Things " and " Climb Every Mountain". Moreover, they founded a production company that produced other than its own and other pieces such as Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun
After Hammerstein's death in 1960 Rodgers continued to write for the stage, but with different songwriters. On the whole, however, the pieces in this period were less successful, which on the one hand was due to a changed taste in music, on the other hand, the fact that Rodgers did not find it appropriate partners more.
In his last years he became ill with throat cancer who took the voice of him. Richard Rodgers died in 1979 at the age of 77 years in his hometown.
His daughter Mary Rodgers ( born 1931 ) is also a well-known musical composer.
Works
Together with Lorenz Hart
Along with Oscar Hammerstein II
By Oscar Hammerstein's death
Films about Rodgers & his partner
- Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds ( PBS Series: " American Masters" documentary (TV ) - USA 2001)