Richard Rodgers – composer (b. June 28, 1902 – d. December 30, 1979)
was one of the central figures in twentieth-century American musical theatre. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he wrote more than 900 published songs and the scores for forty Broadway musicals. His career was shaped by two major writing partnerships: first with Lorenz Hart, and later with Oscar Hammerstein II. After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers continued writing for the stage, at times supplying both music and lyrics himself.
Born in New York City on June 28, 1902, Rodgers grew up in a family where music was part of everyday life. He began writing songs while still young and attended Columbia University, where he met Lorenz Hart. Rodgers and Hart's professional collaboration began with songs for amateur and university productions. Their first professional Broadway song was “Any Old Place with You,” included in A Lonely Romeo in 1919.
Their breakthrough came with The Garrick Gaieties in 1925, a charity revue for which they supplied the score. The show introduced “Manhattan,” one of their enduring songs, and established Rodgers and Hart as a successful songwriting team. During the following years they became increasingly prolific, writing for...
Read 
