Richard Lewine
Encyclopedia
Richard Lewine was an American
composer and songwriter on Broadway as well as television producer
.
, Lewine attended Columbia College
before beginning his career as a composer and songwriter. In 1934, he wrote songs for the Broadway revue Fools Rush In. During World War II
, Lewine served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. In the 1950s and 1960s, Lewine produced musicals for television including Cinderella starring Julie Andrews
and Aladdin
featuring music by Cole Porter
. Lewine also produced the Young People's Concerts
telecasts on CBS
and, in 1965, won an Emmy Award for producing the television special My Name Is Barbra
starring Barbra Streisand
. After fellow composer Richard Rodgers
' death in 1979, Lewine was the managing director of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.
On May 19, 2005, Lewine died of natural causes at his home in Manhattan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer and songwriter on Broadway as well as television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
.
Career
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Lewine attended Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
before beginning his career as a composer and songwriter. In 1934, he wrote songs for the Broadway revue Fools Rush In. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lewine served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. In the 1950s and 1960s, Lewine produced musicals for television including Cinderella starring Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
and Aladdin
Aladdin (TV special)
Aladdin was a 1958 musical fantasy written especially for television with a book by S.J. Perelman and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, telecast in color on the DuPont Show of the Month by CBS. It was Porter's very last musical score. The musical was later presented on stage in London, premiering...
featuring music by Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
. Lewine also produced the Young People's Concerts
Young People's Concerts
The Young People's Concerts at the New York Philharmonic are the longest-running series of family concerts of classical music in the world.-Genesis:...
telecasts on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and, in 1965, won an Emmy Award for producing the television special My Name Is Barbra
My Name Is Barbra (TV special)
My Name Is Barbra is a 1965 television special and the first for up and coming star Barbra Streisand. This television special was released in conjunction with Streisand's fifth studio album My Name Is Barbra. The special was highly successfully winning many awards and a contract was signed for...
starring Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
. After fellow composer Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
' death in 1979, Lewine was the managing director of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.
Personal life and death
Lewine was married twice; he married first wife Mary Haas in 1945 with whom he had two children, Cornelia and Peter. After Haas' death in 1968, Lewine married Elizabeth Rivers.On May 19, 2005, Lewine died of natural causes at his home in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.