Lee Adams
American lyricist (born 1924)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Richard Adams (born Leopold Richard Adams,[1][2] August 14, 1924) is an American lyricist best known for his musical theatre collaboration with Charles Strouse.
August 14, 1924
Lee Adams | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leopold Richard Adams August 14, 1924 Mansfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, librettist |
| Alma mater | |
| Notable works | Bye Bye Birdie Golden Boy It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman Applause |
| Notable awards | 2 Tony Awards, 1 Emmy Award |
| Spouse | Kelly Wood Adams |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
Lee Adams was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on August 14, 1924.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[6] 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.[7]
Adams has been married to his wife, Dr. Kelly Wood Adams, since September 1980.[8] They have lived in Briarcliff Manor, New York since 2007. He has two daughters and three grandchildren.[9] He turned 100 in August 2024.[10]
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.[11]
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)
