Lee Adams

Lee Richard Adams (born Leopold Richard Adams,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> August 14, 1924) is an American lyricist best known for his musical theatre collaboration with Charles Strouse.

Biography

Lee Adams was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on August 14, 1924.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> He is the son of Dr. Leopold Adams, originally of Stamford, Connecticut, and Florence Ellis (originally Elishack) Adams, originally of Racine, Wisconsin. His family is Jewish. He is a graduate of Mansfield Senior High School.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University and a Master's from Columbia University. While attending Ohio State, he was a brother of the Nu chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He worked as a journalist for newspaper and magazines. He met Charles Strouse in 1949, and they initially wrote for summer-time revues.<ref>"Lee Adams" pbs.com, retrieved January 31, 2019</ref>

Adams won Tony Awards in 1961 for Bye Bye Birdie, the first Broadway musical he wrote with Strouse, and in 1970 for Applause and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1965 for Golden Boy.<ref name=play>"Lee Adams Broadway" Playbill, retrieved January 31, 2019</ref> In addition, he wrote the lyrics for All American, It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, Bring Back Birdie, and A Broadway Musical, and the book and lyrics for Ain't Broadway Grand.<ref name=play/> Additionally, Strouse and Adams co-wrote "Those Were the Days", the opening theme to the TV situation comedy All in the Family. Adams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.<ref>"Lee Adams" songhall.org, retrieved January 31, 2019</ref>

Adams has been married to his wife, Dr. Kelly Wood Adams, since September 1980.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have lived in Briarcliff Manor, New York since 2007. He has two daughters and three grandchildren.<ref name="BM">Template:Cite news</ref> He turned 100 in August 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Nonmusical writing

In addition to his work with lyrics, Adams "had a lifelong fascination with words," which led to his being an editor for the Sunday newspaper magazine supplement This Week and a member of the staff of Pageant magazine.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Works

• A Pound in Your Pocket (1958)
• Bye Bye Birdie (1960)
• All American (1962)
• Golden Boy (1964)
• It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1966)
• Applause (1970)
• I and Albert (1972)
• Bring Back Birdie (1980)
• A Broadway Musical (1982), contributed the song Dancing
• Ain't Broadway Grand! (1993)

See also

• List of centenarians (musicians, composers and music patrons)

Sources

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External links

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