After notices regarding a theatre visit and Christmas lunch tickets, our August speaker was introduced. Eric Lupton presented us with the ‘Lives and Music of Rodgers and Hart’.
Although possibly best known for his collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein (e.g. ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Carousel’), Richard Rodgers also had a long-term working relationship with Lorenz Hart.
Rodgers was born in 1902, the son of a doctor who liked to sing and a mother who was an accomplished pianist. By the age of 4, he was playing the piano, composing by 9 and writing songs for reviews by the age of 15.
Hart was born in 1895, the son of Eastern Europeans living in America. His father was under 5 feet tall and weighed more than 20 stones – a larger than life character who apparently used very colourful language but was said to be a good and kind man.
Rodgers and Hart were introduced in 1919 while Rodgers was still in high school and Hart had already graduated from Columbia University. Rodgers later said of that meeting that he had found, ‘A career, a partner, a best friend and a source of constant irritation.’ They worked together from 1920 to 1924 with limited success. Their first hit was, ‘The Garrick Gaieties’ in 1925 and Eric played us a soundtrack of himself playing, ‘Manhatten’, a hit from the show. Finally Rodgers and Hart had financial stability. Songs from following films include, ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Have you met Miss Jones?’.
In 1937, Rodgers and Hart worked on ‘Babes in Arms’, from which Eric played 3 songs; ‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘Where or When’ and That’s Why the Lady is a Tramp’.
‘Pal Joey’ was not a success in 1940 but when it was revived in 1952, it was a sensation. Songs included ‘I Could Write a Book’ and ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’, the latter of which had very daring lyrics for that era!
Hart was under 5 feet tall and always conscious of his size. He was, however, extremely confident of his gift. At one point he stated; ‘ I have a lot of talent. If I had cared, I could have been a genius.’ Unfortunately, Hart sank into depression and alcoholism and died in 1943.
Eric ended his presentation by playing ‘Falling in Love with Love’.
This was an appealing presentation, littered with amusing anecdotes, photographs and quotes. We learned much about the lives, families and works of 2 extremely famous musicians and the audience enjoyed it very much.
Eric donated his fee to the charity, ‘Young Lives VS Cancer’.
Reports of monthly meetings and information of upcoming events and activity groups can be found on our website - https://www.northwich.u3asite.uk Come and join us for the meeting on Wednesday 16th August, 2pm at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Weaverham, when Brian Groom will tell us all about his latest book entitled; ‘These Isles’.