NPR : Easy To Remember: A Centennial Tribute to Richard Rodgers
Nerissa Paglinauan
Easy to Remember: A Centennial Tribute to Richard Rodgers -- Composer Richard Rodgers' partnerships with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II produced some of America's most beloved musicals including <i>Pal Joey</i>, <i>Oklahoma!</i> and <i>The Sound of Music</i>.
"I think that the theater is my medium. I don't think that I have any business trying to write abstract music. I don't think I'm a symphonic composer. I think the field of opera is too restricted for me. And, I can say everything I want to say inside the walls of a legitimate theater." -- Richard Rodgers

1902

June 28: Richard Charles Rodgers is born on Long Island, NY.

1916

Attends Townsend Harris Hall and DeWitt Clinton High School.

First songs: "Dear Old Wigwam" and "Camp-Fire Days."

1917

First copyrighted song: "Auto Show Girl."

One Minute Please, first amateur musical comedy.

1919

Attends Columbia University (1919-21).

Begins 24-year collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Listen to Rodgers on Hart

"Any Old Place with You" is Rodgers' first professional song with Hart. Listen

1921

Attends institute of Musical Art (Juilliard) (1921-1923).

1922

Rodgers and Hart write "Manhattan" for the never-performed Winkle Town. The song later ends up being the hit tune of The Garrick Gaieties.

1925

The Garrick Gaieties, a revue, is Rodgers & Hart's big break.

1927

A Connecticut Yankee, a musical comedy, premieres.

1929

Masters of Melody, a film documentary about Rodgers & Hart.

Listen to a segment

1930

Marries Dorothy Belle Feiner in New York.

1931

Birth of Mary Rodgers.

Musical comedy: America's Sweethart. Film: The Hot Heiress.

1932

Love Me Tonight, a Hollywood film with Maurice Chevalier featuring the song "Isn't It Romantic."

1936

On Your Toes, a musical comedy with choreography by George Balanchine, features the instrumental ballet "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue."

1937

With the premiere of Babes In Arms, Rodgers & Hart become the first team to write their own story, dialogue and songs for a Broadway show.

1940

Pal Joey, a musical comedy, premieres. Features "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."

1942

Begins 18-year collaboration with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.

1943

Oklahoma!, a musical play, wins the Special Pulitzer Prize for Drama and reinvents the American musical.

Lorenz Hart, a chronic alcoholic, dies at age 48.

1945

The musical play Carousel wins the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The movie State Fair wins an Academy Award for best song, "It Might As Well Be Spring."

1946

Rodgers & Hammerstein produce Annie Get Your Gun, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.

1949

South Pacific, a musical play starring Mary Martin and opera star Ezio Pinza, wins the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and an Antoinette Perry ("Tony") Award for Best Musical.

1951

The King & I wins Tony Awards for best musical, best performance (Gertrude Lawrence), best score, and best book.

1952

Writes the score for Victory at Sea, a 26-episode television documentary.

1953

Rodgers & Hammerstein have four shows running simultaneously in New York.

Me and Juliet premieres.

Rodgers & Hammerstein Week in New York, August 31 - September 6.

1957

Cinderella, a television musical starring Julie Andrews. This live production attracts 107 million viewers.

1958

Flower Drum Song, a musical play, premieres.

1959

The Sound of Music, a musical play, premieres. Wins six Tony Awards, including best musical and score. "Edelweiss" is the last song Hammerstein ever writes.

1960

Oscar Hammerstein II dies of stomach cancer.

1962

No Strings, featuring "The Sweetest Sounds," premieres; wins Tony Award for best score and best actress in a musical (Diahann Carroll).

1963 - 1969

Continues writing with lyricists Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Hamick and Martin Chamin.

1969

Rodgers has a heart attack.

1974

Rodgers undergoes a laryngectomy.

1977

Rodgers celebrates 75th birthday.

1978

Kennedy Center salute to Richard Rodgers.

1979

I Remember Mama, a musical play, premieres.

Oklahoma! returns triumphantly to Broadway.

Richard Rodgers dies on December 30.