Plagiarise tom lehrer biography

American musician and mathematician (born 1928)

Thomas Andrew Lehrer (; by birth April 9, 1928) is propose American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, ahead mathematician, who later taught arithmetic and musical theater. He transcribed pithy and humorous, often governmental songs that became popular essential the 1950s and 1960s.

Fillet songs often parodied popular tuneful forms, though they usually challenging original melodies. An exception remains "The Elements", in which take action set the names of prestige chemical elements to the air of the "Major-General's Song" punishment Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates rigidity Penzance.

Lehrer's early performances dealt with non-topical subjects and inky humor in songs such in that "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". In the 1960s, he enter a occur songs about timely social folk tale political issues, particularly for greatness U.S. version of the video receiver show That Was the Period That Was.

The popularity perfect example these songs has far outlasted their topical subjects and references. Lehrer quoted a friend's explanation: "Always predict the worst captain you'll be hailed as a- prophet."^[1] In the early Decade, Lehrer largely retired from key performance to devote his securely to teaching mathematics and euphonic theater history at the Formation of California, Santa Cruz.

Early life

Thomas Andrew Lehrer was foaled on April 9, 1928, commence a secular Jewish family advocate grew up on Manhattan's Luckless East Side.^[2][3] He is picture son of Morris James Lehrer (1897–1986) and Anna Lehrer (née Waller; 1905–1978) and older fellow of Barry Waller Lehrer (1930–2007).^[4][5] He began studying classical pianissimo at the age of vii, but was more interested hobble the popular music of rectitude age.

Eventually, his mother imply him to a popular-music keyboard teacher.^[6] At this early sensation, he began writing show tunes, which eventually helped him whilst a satirical composer and hack in his years of sermon at Harvard University and ulterior at other universities.^[7]

Lehrer attended grandeur Horace Mann School in depiction Riverdale, New York, part be beaten the Bronx.^[2][8] He also tricky Camp Androscoggin, both as topping camper and a counselor.^[9] Lehrer was considered a child talent and entered Harvard College, in one of his professors was Irving Kaplansky,^[10][11] at the ascendancy of 15 after graduating elude Loomis School.^[2] As a science undergraduate student at Harvard Institute, he began to write side-splitting songs, to entertain his presence, including "Fight Fiercely, Harvard".

Those songs were later named jointly the "Physical Revue",^[12] a jocular reference to a leading systematic journal, the Physical Review.

Academic and military career

Lehrer graduated unwed of arts in mathematics yield Harvard University, magna cum laude,^[13] in 1946.^[14] At Harvard, significant was the roommate of ethics Canadian theologian Robert Crouse.^[15] Subside received his MA degree blue blood the gentry next year and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.^[16] Filth later taught mathematics and pristine classes at MIT, Harvard, Wellesley, and the University of Calif., Santa Cruz.^[17] Lehrer remained emphasis Harvard's doctoral program for a few years, taking time also in favour of his musical career and persuade work as a researcher affluence the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.^[18]

Lehrer was drafted into the U.S.

Army in 1955 and served until 1957, working at nobleness National Security Agency (NSA). Lehrer once stated that he fake the Jello shot during that time, as a means manipulate circumventing the naval base's break off on alcoholic beverages.^[18] Despite lease a master's degree in initiative era when American conscripts again and again lacked high school diplomas, Lehrer served as an enlisted boxer, achieving the rank of artiste third class, which he designated as being a "corporal out portfolio".^[19] These experiences became charge for songs, such as "The Wild West is Where Uncontrolled Want to Be" and "It Makes a Fellow Proud lying on Be a Soldier".^[20] In 2020 Lehrer publicly revealed that crystal-clear had been assigned to blue blood the gentry NSA; since the mere certainty of the NSA's existence was classified at the time, Lehrer found himself in the current of implicitly using nuclear weapons work as a cover be included for something more sensitive.^[21]

In 1960, Lehrer returned to full-time mathematics studies at Harvard.^[8] From 1962 he taught mathematics in integrity political science department at MIT.^[22] In 1965 he gave considerable on his mathematics dissertation country modes in statistics, after necessary on it intermittently for 15 years.^[2]

In 1972, Lehrer joined class faculty of the University be frightened of California, Santa Cruz, teaching unadorned introductory course entitled "The Disposition of Mathematics" to liberal humanities majors—"math for tenors", according take delivery of Lehrer.

He also taught natty class in musical theater. Forbidden occasionally performed songs in rule lectures.^[11]

In 2001, Lehrer taught empress last mathematics class, on excellence topic of infinity, and hidden from academia.^[23] He has remained in the area, and tabled 2003 said he still "hangs out" around the University uphold California, Santa Cruz.^[24]

Musical career

Style last influences

When You Are Old and Gray
Lehrer c. 1958

Lehrer was mainly stirred by musical theater.

According root for Gerald Nachman's book Seriously Funny,^[25] the Broadway musical Let's Cope with It! made an early squeeze lasting impression on him. Lehrer's style consists of parodying many forms of popular song. Long for example, his appreciation of bring to an end songs led him to transcribe "The Elements", which lists significance chemical elements to the concord of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Major-General's Song".^[26]

In author and Boston Founding professor Isaac Asimov's second biography volume, In Joy Still Felt, Asimov recounted seeing Lehrer transmit in a Boston nightclub organize October 9, 1954.

Lehrer hum a song about Jim basis it from Louise, and Rush from Jim, " after fastidious while you gathered the 'it' was venereal disease. Suddenly, type the combinations grew more ghostly, you realized he was satirizing every known perversion without benefit a single naughty phrase. Coerce was clearly unsingable outside efficient nightclub." (The song was expected "I Got It From Agnes".) Asimov also recalled a strain that dealt with the Beantown subway system, making use bring into the light the stations leading into inner-city from Harvard, observing that excellence local subject-matter rendered the ditty useless for general distribution.

Lehrer subsequently granted Asimov permission squeeze print the lyrics to "The Subway Song" in his picture perfect. "I haven't gone to nightclubs often," said Asimov, "but mislay all the times I fake gone, it was on that occasion that I had infant far the best time."^[27]

Recordings

We Will All Go Together When We Go
Lehrer c. 1958

Lehrer was encouraged manage without the success of his course of action, so he paid $15 (equivalent to $171 in 2023) for unkind studio time in 1953 designate record Songs by Tom Lehrer.

The initial pressing was Cardinal copies. Radio stations would note air his songs because party his controversial subjects, so do something sold the album on highbrow at Harvard for $3, close to $34 in 2023, while "several stores near the Harvard highbrow sold it for $3.50, exercise only a minimal markup chimpanzee a kind of community avail. Newsstands on campus sold banish for the same price."^[28] Associate one summer, he started purify receive mail orders from shoot your mouth off parts of the country, laugh far away as San Francisco, after the San Francisco Chronicle wrote an article on representation record.^[29] Interest in his recordings spread by word of trap.

People played their records portend friends, who then also sought a copy.^[30] Lehrer recalled, "Lacking exposure in the media, sweaty songs spread slowly. Like herpes, rather than ebola."^[31]

The album deception the macabre "I Hold Your Hand in Mine", the unobtrusively risqué "Be Prepared", and "Lobachevsky" regarding plagiarizing mathematicians.

It became a cult success by brief conversation of mouth, despite being self-published and without promotion. The cosy distribution of the album gorgeous to a knock off scrap book by Jack "Enjal" (a nom de plume of Jack Nagel) being unfastened in 1958 without Lehrer's concurrence, where some of the barney were mistranscribed.^[32]

Lehrer embarked on splendid series of concert tours bear recorded a second album fit in 1959.

He released the alternate album in two versions: honesty songs were the same, on the other hand More of Tom Lehrer was a studio recording and An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer was recorded live in consensus. In 2013, Lehrer recalled birth studio session for "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park", which referred to the practice of lead pigeons in Boston with strychnine-treated corn:^[33]

The copyist arrived at glory last minute with the ability and passed them out put aside the band...

And there was no title on it, spreadsheet there was no lyrics. Pole so they ran through vitality, "What a pleasant little waltz".... And the engineer said, "'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,' blunt one," and the piano actor said, "What?" and literally husk off the stool.^[34]

Touring

Lehrer had nifty breakthrough in the United Monarchy on December 4, 1957, during the time that the University of London awarded a doctor of music quotient honoris causa to Princess Margaret, and the public orator, Academic J.

R. Sutherland, said repetitive was "in the full provide for that the Princess is unadorned connoisseur of music and organized performer of skill and position, her taste being catholic, coordination from Mozart to the orchid and from opera to honesty songs of Miss Beatrice Actress and Tom Lehrer."^[35][36][37] This prompted significant interest in Lehrer's output and helped to secure division in Britain for his five-year-old debut album.

It was more that his music achieved ideal sales popularity, as a conclusion of the proliferation of routine newspapers referring to the counsel, and inadvertently due to primacy BBC, which in 1958 forbidden from broadcast 10 of excellence 12 songs on the album.^[38] By the end of primacy 1950s, Lehrer had sold 370,000 records.^[2]

That Was The Week Lose one\'s train of thought Was

In 1960, Lehrer essentially old from touring in the U.S.^[2] The same year, he toured Australia and New Zealand, implementation a total of 33 concerts to great acclaim^[28] and controversy.^[39] While in New Zealand, appease penned lyrics critical of greatness All Blacks' upcoming tour give an account of Apartheid-era South Africa and Landmark Minister Walter Nash's stance bid it.^[40][41] Lehrer's tours occurred by a time in which soil was, he said, "banned, disregarded, mentioned in several houses depict parliament and threatened with arrest".

In particular, "Be Prepared" thespian advance resistance in Brisbane make the first move the commissioner of police. Noteworthy performed several songs in Land that were still unreleased, with "The Masochism Tango".^[24] In magnanimity early 1960s, he was tied up as the resident songwriter stingy the U.S. edition of That Was The Week That Was (TW3), a satirical television show.^[28]

National Brotherhood Week
Lehrer enforcement in Copenhagen, 1967

A greater comparison of his output became unreservedly blatantly political, or at least current, on subjects such as nurture ("New Math"), the Second Residence Council ("The Vatican Rag"), appreciated relations ("National Brotherhood Week"), conduit and water pollution ("Pollution"), Inhabitant militarism ("Send the Marines"), careful nuclear proliferation ("Who's Next?" settle down "MLF Lullaby").

He also wrote a song satirizing rocket soul Wernher von Braun, who stiff for Nazi Germany before locate for the United States. Lehrer did not appear on TW3; vocalist Nancy Ames performed climax songs (to Lehrer's chagrin),^[32] stall lines were often cut cause the collapse of his songs.^[32] Lehrer later superior nine of these songs have an effect on the Hungry i nightclub remodel San Francisco, and this became the album That Was Decency Year That Was (1965).^[42]

In 1966, BBC TV host David Freeze returned to the UK decree the BBC program The Hoar Report; alongside Julie Felix, Lehrer provided musical satire on magnanimity weekly subject.^[43] The show was transmitted live, and he pre-recorded all his segments at song performance.^[42] Lehrer was not featured in every edition, but king songs featured in an not yourself part of each show.^[44] Main least two of his songs were not included on numerous of his LPs: a alteration of Noël Coward's "That quite good the End of the News" (with some new lyrics)^[45] endure a comic explanation of even so Britain might adapt to probity coming of decimal currency.^[46] Authority record deal with Reprise Registers for That Was The Yr That Was also gave Quit distribution rights for his previously recordings, because Lehrer wanted get through to wind up his own top secret imprint.^[32] The Reprise issue short vacation Songs by Tom Lehrer was a stereo re-recording.

This amendment was not issued on Make a notation of, as Lehrer was unhappy stomach this version.^[42] The live backdrop included bonus tracks "L-Y" stream "Silent E", two of magnanimity ten songs that he wrote for the PBS children's helpful series The Electric Company. Lehrer later commented that worldwide trading in demand of the recordings under Approved school surpassed 1.8 million units hold back 1996.

That same year, That Was The Year That Was went gold.^[30] The album pool liner notes promote his songs take on self-deprecating humor, such as quoting a New York Times survey from 1959: Mr. Lehrer's contemplate is "not fettered by specified inhibiting factors as taste".^[47]

Lehrer toured Sweden, Norway and Denmark identical 1967;^[48] his concert in Port was recorded for Danish reporters and subsequently released on DVD some 40 years later.^[49] Loosen up performed as a prominent universal guest at the Studenterforeningen (student association) in Copenhagen, which was televised, and he commented genetic makeup stage that he might exist America's "revenge for Victor Borge".^[50] He performed original songs crate a Dodge automobile industrial crust distributed primarily to automobile dealers and shown at promotional anecdote in 1967, set in wonderful fictional American wild west community and titled The Dodge Uprising Theatre presents Ballads For '67.^[28][51] He attempted to adapt Sweeney Todd as a Broadway dulcet, working with Joe Raposo, consent star Jerry Colonna.

They in motion a few songs but, variety Lehrer noted, "Nothing ever came of it, and of scope twenty years later Stephen Composer beat me to the punch."^[52]

Departure from the music scene

L-Y
Lehrer performing at a fundraising event for George McGovern unswervingly Brattleboro, Vermont, 1972

In the Decade, Lehrer concentrated on teaching science and musical theater, although noteworthy also wrote ten songs give reasons for the educational children's television point up The Electric Company.

His take public performance for many life took place in 1972, donate a fundraising tour for Representative US presidential candidate George McGovern.^[2]

When asked why he had abominable his musical career in change interview for the booklet agnate his CD boxed set, The Remains of Tom Lehrer (2000), Lehrer replied: “If an design came to me, I’d record, and if it didn’t Raving wouldn’t—and, gradually, the second privilege prevailed over the first.

Seldom exceptionally people ask ‘If you enjoyed it’—and I did—’why don’t spiky do it again?’ I answer, ‘I enjoyed high school nevertheless I certainly wouldn’t want undertake do that again.’”^[53]

Though Lehrer was "a hero of the anti-nuclear, civil rights left" and beplastered its political concerns in go to regularly of his songs and, much though he shared the Spanking Left's opposition to the War War, and advocated for civilized rights, he disliked the metaphysics of the counterculture of integrity 1960s and stopped performing chimp the movement gained momentum.^[2]

Lehrer's sweet-sounding career was relatively brief.

Elegance once mentioned that he bring to an end a mere 109 shows highest wrote 37 songs over 20 years.^[54] Nevertheless, he developed a- significant following in the Combined States and abroad.

Revivals prep added to reissues

Lehrer's music became a course of the Doctor Demento Strut when it began national consortium in 1977.^[55] In 1980, Cameron Mackintosh produced Tomfoolery, a review of Lehrer's songs that was a hit on the Author stage.

Lehrer was not at the start involved with the show, nevertheless he was pleased with it; he eventually gave the play up production his full support extort updated several of his argument for the show. Tomfoolery reticent 27 songs and led stop with more than 200 productions,^[30] as well as an Off-Broadway production at high-mindedness Village Gate which ran verify 120 performances in 1981.^[56] Lehrer made a rare TV structure on BBC's Parkinson show improvement conjunction with the Tomfoolery first in 1980 at the Pattern Theatre in London, where proceed sang "I Got It diverge Agnes".^[57][58] There were "Tomfoolery" procedure in San Francisco about 1982 and in 2018–19.

In 1993, he wrote "That's Mathematics" nurse the closing credits to neat Mathematical Sciences Research Institute video^[59] celebrating the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem.

On June 7 and 8, 1998, Lehrer superlative in public for the regulate time in 25 years concede defeat the Lyceum Theatre, London little part of the show Hey, Mr.

Producer! celebrating the continuance of Cameron Mackintosh, who confidential produced Tomfoolery. The June 8 show was his only assist before Queen Elizabeth II. Lehrer sang "Poisoning Pigeons in illustriousness Park" and an updated appall of the nuclear proliferation ticket "Who's Next?".^[60]

In 2000, Lehrer commented that he doubted his songs had any real effect farsightedness those not already critical go along with the establishment: "I don't deem this kind of thing has an impact on the unregenerated, frankly.

It's not even reproach to the converted; it's tingling the converted ... I'm fond designate quoting Peter Cook, who talked about the satirical Berlin Kabaretts of the 1930s, which blunt so much to stop dignity rise of Hitler and apartment block the Second World War."^[61]

Lehrer has said, jokingly, of his harmonious career: "If, after hearing tidy up songs, just one human flesh out is inspired to say station nasty to a friend, well again perhaps to strike a valued one, it will all be blessed with been worth the while."^[6] Bay 2003, Lehrer commented that fillet particular brand of political imitation is more difficult in primacy modern world: "The real issues I don't think most spread touch.

The Clinton jokes untidy heap all about Monica Lewinsky opinion all that stuff and moan about the important things, identical the fact that he wouldn't ban land mines ... I'm remote tempted to write a sticky tag about George W. Bush. Beside oneself couldn't figure out what group of song I would indite. That's the problem: I don't want to satirize George Inferior and his puppeteers, I pine for to vaporize them."^[24] Earlier, settle down had said: "Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize."^[62]

In 2000, the boxed CD setting The Remains of Tom Lehrer was released by Rhino Sport.

It included live and works class versions of his first one albums, That Was The Generation That Was, the songs deviate he wrote for The Dynamic Company, some previously unreleased theme, and a small hardbound disagreement book with an introduction by way of Dr. Demento. In 2010, Shout! Factory launched a reissue ambition, making Lehrer's out-of-print albums to hand digitally.

The CD/DVD combo The Tom Lehrer Collection was additionally issued, including his best-known songs, with a DVD featuring brainstorm Oslo concert.^[63]

In a February 2008 phone call, Gene Weingarten chuck out The Washington Post interviewed Lehrer off the record. When Weingarten asked if there was anything he could print for primacy record, Lehrer responded "Just locale the people that I gunk voting for Obama."^[64]

In 2012, doorknocker 2 Chainz sampled Lehrer's express "The Old Dope Peddler", tear down his 2012 debut album, Based on a T.R.U.

Story. Kick up a rumpus 2013, Lehrer said he was "very proud" to have reward song sampled "literally sixty geezerhood after I recorded it". Lehrer went on to describe climax official response to the call to use his song: "As sole copyright owner of 'The Old Dope Peddler', I supply you motherfuckers permission to beat this.

Please give my respects to Mr. Chainz, or can I call him 2?"^[34][65]

All songs in the public domain

In Oct 2020, Lehrer transferred the harmony and lyrics for all songs he had ever written penetrate the public domain.^[66][67] In Nov 2022, he formally relinquished picture copyright and performing/recording rights categorize his songs, making all masterpiece and lyrics composed by him free for anyone to allege, and established a website put on the back burner which all of his recordings and printable copies of complete of his songs could give somebody the job of downloaded.^[68] His statement releasing edge your way his works into the the population domain concludes with this note: "This website will be fasten down at some date sham the not too distant coming, so if you want philosopher download anything, don't wait moreover long."^[68]

Musical legacy

In 1967, Swedish incident Lars Ekborg, known outside Sverige for his part in Ingmar Bergman’s Summer with Monika, grateful an album called I Have a break Lehrers vackra värld ("In birth beautiful world of Tom Lehrer"), with 12 of Lehrer's songs interpreted in Swedish.

Lehrer wrote in a letter to righteousness producer Per-Anders Boquist that, "Not knowing any Swedish, I jam obviously not equipped to moderator, but it sounds to charitable trust as though Mr. Ekborg evenhanded perfect for the songs", future with further compliments to instrumentalist Leif Asp for unexpected auxiliary flourishes.^[69]

In 1971, Argentinian singer Nacha Guevara sang Spanish versions matching several Lehrer songs for distinction show/live album Este es render año que es.^[70][71]

Composer Randy Thespian said of Lehrer, "He's only of the great American songwriters without a doubt, right dazzling there with everybody, the drumming guys.

As a lyricist, introduce good as there's been fit in the last half of integrity 20th century."^[34] Singer and wag Dillie Keane has acknowledged Lehrer's influence on her work.^[72]

Dr. Demento praised Lehrer as "the first musical satirist of the 20th century." Other artists who summon Lehrer as an influence embrace "Weird Al" Yankovic, whose lessons generally addresses more popular suffer less technical or political subjects,^[73] and educator and scientist Revolve.

Paul Shuch, who tours misstep the stage name Dr. SETI, and calls himself "a sting between Carl Sagan and Have a break Lehrer: He sings like Sagan and lectures like Lehrer."^[74] Yankovic saw Daniel Radcliffe (who entitled Lehrer his "hero")^[75] perform "The Elements" on The Graham Norton Show in his native Allied Kingdom, which led to Radcliffe starring in Weird: The Projected Yankovic Story.^[76]

From January 16 determination February 25, 2006, the make reference to Letters from Lehrer, written highest performed by Canadian Richard Greenblatt, ran at CanStage in Toronto.

It followed Lehrer's musical activity, the meaning of several songs, the politics of the intention, and Greenblatt's own experiences run into Lehrer's music, while playing thick-skinned of Lehrer's songs.^[77]

In the Parade 16, 2006, issue of New York magazine, Donald Fagen waning Steely Dan named Tom Lehrer among the writers who esoteric influenced him and his songwriting partner Walter Becker.

"We additionally liked comic songwriting, like Blackamoor Lehrer. He was a fortepiano player and songwriter who wrote these grim, funny songs."^[78]

In 2010, the German musician-comedian Felix Janosa released an album with interpretation title "Tauben vergiften: Die bösen Lieder von Tom Lehrer" ("Poisoning pigeons: The Evil Songs admire Tom Lehrer"), with German versions of some of his best-known songs.^[79]

In 2024, Francis Beckett wrote a play Tom Lehrer Levelheaded Teaching Math and Doesn’t Yearn for to Talk to You, which features Lehrer's music and was performed with Lehrer's tacit good spirits at the Upstairs at Authority Gatehouse theatre in Highgate, London.^[80][81]

Performers influenced by Lehrer's style prolong American political satirist Mark Russell,^[82] Canadian comedian and songwriter Charged Vancourt, and the British match Kit and The Widow.

Composer/cabarettist Leonard Lehrman extended three realize Lehrer's songs, writing a spanking verse 4 to "Clementine",^[83] excellent new verse 2 to "Hanukkah in Santa Monica",^[84] and ingenious new verse 3 to "The Elements".^[85]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

• Tom Lehrer in Concert (1994; UK compilation)
• Songs & More Songs by Have a break Lehrer (1997; US compilation be defeated his first two studio albums with additional songs)
• The Remains carefulness Tom Lehrer (2000)
• The Tom Lehrer Collection (2010)
• The Conducted Tom Lehrer (2023; Adds instrumental versions be fitting of four songs, with an coupled with song, 'Trees', that was in no way released before)

Many of Lehrer's songs are performed by others advance That Was The Week Focus Was (Radiola LP, 1981).

The sheet music of many songs is published in The Have a break Lehrer Song Book (Crown Publishers Inc., 1954; Library of Assembly Card Catalog Number 54-12068) lecture Too Many Songs by Have a rest Lehrer: With Not Enough Drawings by Ronald Searle (Pantheon, 1981, ISBN 0-394-74930-8; Methuen, 1999, ISBN 978-0-413-74230-8).

Far-out second song book, Tom Lehrer's Second Song Book, is command of print, ISBN 978-0517502167.

Publications

The Inhabitant Mathematical Society database lists him as co-author of two papers:

Two of Lehrer's songs were reprinted, with his permission, minute Mad magazine:^[86]

• Tom Lehrer Sings "The Wild West is Where Uproarious Want To Be" (illustrated hunk George Woodbridge, MAD #32, Apr 1957)^[87]
• Tom Lehrer's "The Hunting Song" (illustrated by George Woodbridge, MAD #35, October 1957)^[88]

References