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Theater|Charles Strouse, Composer of ‘Annie’ and ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ Dies at 96
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/theater/charles-strouse-dead.html
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He wrote some of the most enduring musical theater numbers of his era and earned three Tony Awards, a Grammy and an Emmy.
May 15, 2025Updated 6:09 p.m. ET
Charles Strouse, an accidental Broadway composer whose work — including hits like “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie” — earned him three Tony Awards, a Grammy and an Emmy, died on Thursday at his home in Manhattan. He was 96.
His death was confirmed by Jim Byk, a spokesman for the family.
Mr. Strouse had more than a dozen Broadway shows to his credit and composed some of the most enduring musical theater numbers of his era: “Put On a Happy Face” and “Kids (What’s the Matter With Kids Today?)” from “Bye Bye Birdie,” which opened in 1960 and featured lyrics by his frequent collaborator Lee Adams; “But Alive” from “Applause” (1970), a musical adaptation of “All About Eve” starring Lauren Bacall, with lyrics by Mr. Adams; and “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” from “Annie” (1977), with lyrics by Martin Charnin.
All three shows earned Tonys for Mr. Strouse — “Birdie” and “Applause” for best musical and “Annie” for best original score. Both “Birdie” and “Annie” were made into hit movies.
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Mr. Strouse’s music has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Duke Ellington and Jay-Z, who sampled the corresponding number from Broadway’s “Annie” on his 1998 rap single “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).”
Some of Mr. Strouse’s numbers became so ubiquitous that they seemed revered and reviled by the public in equal measure. Each response in its own way was a badge of honor.
