Today marks composer Richard Rodgers 115th
birthday. Best known for creating some of the most iconic musicals in history,
many of his works continue to be performed to this day.
One of the first people to ever be awarded Emmys, Tonys,
Oscars and Grammys for his compositions, Rodgers’ career lasted nearly six
decades. Since getting his start in the early 1920s, he has written over 900
songs and 43 musicals. He has had successful partnerships with Lorenz Hart and
Oscar Hammerstein II. His influence on Broadway was so great that after his
passing in 1979, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed the Richard
Rodgers Theatre in his honor.
In honor of Richard Rodgers’ 115th birthday,
Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of his
most iconic works. Here are seven shows that earned Rodgers his place in music
history.
1.
Babes In Arms: One of many collaborations with
Lorenz Hart, ‘Babes in Arms’ told the story of a group of kids who stage a play
in order to avoid being sent to a work farm while their parents are away. Originally
staged in 1937, the show went on to become a movie two years later with Judy
Garland and Mickey Rooney, and garner several hit songs, including “My Funny
Valentine” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” It also started the trope of children
putting on shows to earn money.
2.
Pal Joey: Based on the 1940 novel of the same
name by John O’Hara, Rodgers and Hart composed the music and lyrics for the
Broadway staging of the show that same year. With songs like “Bewitched,
Bothered and Bewildered” and “I Could Write A Book,” which became standards in
the American Songbook, the show was turned into a movie nearly 17 years later
with Frank Sinatra and has had various revivals, the most recent of which was
performed from 2008-2009.
3.
Oklahoma!: While Rodgers had a lot of success
with Hart, it was his work with Oscar Hammerstein II that really took off. The
duo’s first collaboration, ‘Oklahoma!,’ became one of the longest running shows
on Broadway (It’s currently 31st on the list). Spurring hits like “Oklahoma”
and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” the show earned the duo a Pulitzer Prize
and a Special Tony on its 50th anniversary.
4.
SouthPacific: In 1949, Rodgers and Hammerstein had another hit on their hands
with their adaptation of ‘Tales of the South Pacific,’ shortened to just ‘South
Pacific.’ The show received 10 Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical,
Best Book and Best Score, and earned the duo another Pulitzer.
5.
The King and I: ‘The King and I’ earned Rodgers
and Hammerstein another Best Musical Tony, as well as another hit song, “Getting
to Know You.” It remains one of the duos most well-known shows and shot Yul
Brynner to stardom. The show was last
revived in 2015, winning a Tony for Best Revival that year and proving that Rodgers
and Hammerstein’s music doesn’t go out of style.
6.
Cinderella: Written for CBS in 1957, Rodgers and
Hammerstein’s adaptation of ‘Cinderella’ was one of the most successful
versions of the classic fairytale outside of the squeaky clean Disney version.
The production earned the duo an Emmy nomination, Rodgers’ second nod. The
production has been revived many times in film and on stage.
7.
The
Sound of Music: Arguably Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most renowned work, ‘The
Sound of Music’ was based on a film about the real life story of the von Trapp
family. Tapped by stage director Vincent J. Donehue to write a soundtrack for
his show, Rodgers and Hammerstein came up with some of the most beloved songs
ever released. Hits from the musical include “The Sound of Music,” “My Favorite
Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “So Long, Farewell” and “Edelweiss.”
The show has had many successful revivals, including a televised production
starring Carrie Underwood that led to the popularization of live musical
television events.
Richard Rodgers had left an indelible mark on musical
theater. For nearly six decades, his music has been the soundtrack to Broadway’s
most important and classic shows. His songs have taken on lives of their own, becoming
classics in and of themselves. As his musicals continue to be performed year
after year, the influence of Rodgers will continue to live on from generation
to generation.
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Whether you’re into musicals or music in general, Vinyl Bay
777 has you covered. Find thousands of titles in a variety of genres at Long
Island’s top new independent record shop. Browse our wide selection of new and
used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store, as
well as online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added all the
time, so it’s always a great time to stop by or shop online to see what’s new.
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