STAGE TUBE: A Richard Adler Tribute!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, composer-lyricist and Broadway legend, Richard Adler, died Thursday, June 21st at his Southampton, New York home. He was 90. We celebrate the composer with some of his best-known works below!

Mr. Adler, son of Clarence and Elsa Adler, was born in New York City in 1921. A graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1943, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II.

Mr. Adler co-composed the music and lyrics for Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, both of which won Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Score. He also earned a Tony Award nomination for his musical, Kwamina. Some of his biggest hit songs are You Gotta Have Heart, Hey, There, Hernando’s Hideaway, Whatever Lola Wants, Steam Heat, Rags to Riches, and Everybody Loves a Lover.

During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, Richard Adler staged and produced numerous presidential entertainments, including the unforgettable birthday celebration for President Kennedy featuring Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, June 27th at 4 p.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Church, located at 325 Park Avenue in New York City. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the National Park Trust, 401 East Jefferson Street, Suite 109, Rockville, MD, 20850 www.donate.parktrust.org.

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