RICHARD ADLER DIED AT 90

While I was in my summer vacations it come to my knowledge that composer and lyricist Richard Adler died June 21. He was 90 years old.

Together with Jerry Ross he wrote two successful musicals, THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, and both won the Tony Award for Best Musical in, respectively, 1955 and 1956. Although his name isn’t as well known as other composers of the time, he and Ross gave the world famous songs like “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets”, “Heart”, “Hey There”, “Hernando’s Hideway” and “Steam Heat”. This two shows have been revived often and the 2006 Broadway revival of THE PAJAMA GAME won the Tony for Best Musical Revival. In the 50’s Hollywood gave them both the movie treatment, with highly enjoyable results.

Unfortunately, Ross died at the young age of 29 in 1955. Alone, Adler wrote the scores for KWAMINA and MUSIC IS, but both shows failed. Another musical, A MOTHER’S KISSES closed out of town and never made it to Broadway.

But more than words, here are a few videos featuring his work. I hope you’ll enjoy it.