Richard Rodgers
- Type: Composer
- Country: United States
- Born: June 28, 1902 in Arverne, New York, United States
- Died: December 30, 1979 in New York, New York, United States
- Active: 1902 - 1979
Biography
Richard Rodgers was a preeminent American composer who wrote over 900 songs and 40 Broadway musicals, fundamentally shaping the American musical theatre. His career is defined by two legendary partnerships: first with lyricist *Lorenz Hart*, creating sophisticated, witty works like 'Pal Joey', and later with *Oscar Hammerstein II*, with whom he pioneered the integrated musical play. This second collaboration produced some of theatre's most beloved titles, including 'Oklahoma!', 'Carousel', 'South Pacific', 'The King and I', and 'The Sound of Music'. Rodgers is one of the few people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (EGOT), plus a Pulitzer Prize, cementing his legacy as a master of melody and theatrical innovation.