Jerry Herman
Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931 – December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre.
Jerry Herman | |
|---|---|
Herman at the White House for the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors | |
| Born | July 10, 1931 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2019 (aged 88) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Monuments | Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Miami (BA) |
| Partner(s) | Martin Finkelstein (d. 1990) Terry Marler (?–2019) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Musical theatre |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, Lyricist |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 1954–2019 |
| Website | jerryherman |
| Notes | |
One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricist for a number of hit musicals, starting in the 1960s, that were characterized by an upbeat and optimistic outlook and what Herman called "the simple, hummable showtune". His shows include Hello, Dolly! (1964), at one time the longest-running musical in Broadway history, which also produced the hit title song for Louis Armstrong; Mame (1966), a vehicle for Angela Lansbury; and La Cage aux Folles (1984), the first hit Broadway musical about a gay couple.
In 2009, Herman received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. He was a recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors.