Broadway composer of Hello, Dolly! dies aged 88
The composer behind hit Broadway shows hello, Dolly! and La Cage Aux Folles, has died at the age of 88.
Jerry herman, whose songs included I Am What I Am, died on Thursday in Miami – where he lived with his partner – after reportedly suffering from pulmonary complications.
he wrote both the music and lyrics for musicals including hello, Dolly! and during his career picked up two Tony Awards and two Grammys.
British choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne called herman ‘one of the all-time great Broadway composers’. he said his ‘feel-good shows full of melody and joy’ would ‘live for ever’.
Born in New york, herman – who was diagnosed hIV- positive in 1985 – had said his musical career was inspired by legendary composer Irving Berlin. he said his desire to write musicals came after attending a performance of Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun with his parents.
herman, pictured, whose style was described as simple and ‘optimistic’, created ten Broadway shows in total.
They include 1966’s Mame, which starred Angela Lansbury.
In 1964, the composer found his first success with hello, Dolly!, starring Carol Channing. It ran for 2,844 performances – a record at the time – and picked up ten Tony awards. In 1969, it was made into a film starring Barbra Streisand.
Torvill and Dean famously used herman’s overture from Mack And Mabel in their gold medal-winning routine at the 1982 european Championships.
his most notable songs include I’ll Be here Tomorrow, The Best Of Times, Tap Your Troubles Away, It’s Today, We Need A Little Christmas and Before The Parade Passes By.
When he picked up the Tony award for best original score in 1984 for La Cage Aux Folles, herman said: ‘This award forever shatters a myth about the musical theatre. There’s been a rumour around for a couple of years that the simple, hummable show tune was no longer welcome on Broadway. Well, it’s alive and well.’
his goddaughter Jane Dorian confirmed his death yesterday. he is survived by his partner, Terry Marler.