Jerry Herman

Broadway maestro known for upbeat, hummable showtunes and hit musicals.

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:
Jerry Herman
Role / Field:
Broadway maestro known for upbeat, hummable showtunes and hit musicals.
Born:
1931-07-10
Died:
2019-12-26
Century / Era:
1931s Historical Era
Database Source:
2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931 – December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. 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 (1983), the first hit Broadway musical about a gay couple.

Key Developments & Impact

In 2009, Herman received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. He was a recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors. Herman was born in Manhattan and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, the only child of musically inclined, middle-class Jewish parents. He learned to play piano at an early age, and he frequently attended Broadway musicals. Herman's father Harry was a gym teacher and in the summer worked in the Catskill Mountains hotels.

Enduring Legacy

His mother Ruth (née Sachs...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1931 (1931-07-10): Birth of Jerry Herman — Broadway maestro known for upbeat, hummable showtunes and hit musicals.
  2. 1964: 1964 Milestone — (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 (1983), the first hit Broadway musical about a gay couple.
  3. 2009: 2009 Milestone — In 2009, Herman received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
  4. 2010: 2010 Milestone — He was a recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors.
  5. 2019 (2019-12-26): Passing & Historical Legacy — Jerry Herman passed away on 2019-12-26, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Jerry Herman

“I always wanted to write something that was simple, hummable, and upbeat.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jerry Herman

True or False: “Jerry Herman's career was solely focused on writing musicals about romantic heterosexual relationships.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He notably composed the hit Broadway musical *La Cage aux Folles*, which was about a gay couple.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

  • A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Born in 1931) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
  • Adolfo Pérez Esquivel — Contemporary (Born in 1931) (1931): Argentine activist and Nobel Peace laureate for human rights defense.
  • Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Contemporary (Died in 1931) (1931): Leading Finnish painter and pioneer of national romantic art, famed for the Kalevala.
  • Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
  • Agnès Varda — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
  • Akihito — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
  • A. O. Scott — Shared historical date (07-10 · Born) (1966): American journalist and cultural critic specializing in film and literary analysis.
  • Adam František Kollár — Shared historical date (07-10 · Died) (1783): Pioneering Slovak jurist, historian, and coiner of the term ethnology.
  • Alejo Carpentier — Shared historical date (12-26 · Born) (1904): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
  • Arthur Percival — Shared historical date (12-26 · Born) (1887): British Army officer, known for commanding forces during the Malayan Campaign and the fall of Singapore.
  • 1931 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1931
  • July 10 (07-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 10
  • 2019 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2019
  • December 26 (12-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 26

Frequently Asked Questions about Jerry Herman

Who was Jerry Herman and what are their primary contributions?

Broadway maestro known for upbeat, hummable showtunes and hit musicals. Origins & Foundations: Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931 – December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. 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 (1983), the first hit Broadway musical about a gay couple.

When was Jerry Herman born and during which historical era did they live?

Jerry Herman was born on 1931-07-10 and passed away on 2019-12-26. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1931 Chrono-Archive.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Jerry Herman?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia