TRIBUTES have been paid to the composer and lyricist Richard Adler who has passed away aged 90.
Mr. Adler will be remembered for many songs which featured in such Broadway musicals as The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees.
He originally enjoyed success in partnership with Jerry Ross. They co-wrote The Pajama Game which included the hit song Hernando’s Hideaway. It was subsequently recorded by a number of singers including Ella Fitzgerald (see below). The show won them a Tony Award for best show in 1955.
They scored another hit with the baseball-themed Damn Yankees which featured the memorable song You Gotta Have Heart (see below).
But their award winning partnership came to a premature end in 1955 when Mr. Ross passed away at the age of 29.
Mr. Adler continued to write material and produce shows on Broadway.
He also staged and produced a number of shows for U.S. Presidents. One of the most memorable was the birthday celebration for President John F. Kennedy in 1962 in which Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday.
Mr. Adler was a member of the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
To hear Ella Fitzgerald sing Hernando’s Hideaway, click here.
To view a performance of You Gotta Have Heart, click here.
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