Harold Rome
| Harold Rome | |
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Rome in 1950
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| Born |
Harold Jacob Rome May 27, 1908 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 1993 (aged 85) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Composer, lyricist, writer |
Harold Jacob Rome (May 27, 1908 – October 26, 1993) was an American composer, lyricist, and writer for musical theater.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Rome played piano in local dance bands and was already writing music while studying architecture and law at Yale University. After graduation he worked as an architect in New York City, but continued to pursue his musical interests, arranging music for local bands and writing material for revues at Green Mansions, a Jewish summer resort in the Adirondacks. Much of the music Rome was writing at this time was socially conscious and of little interest to Tin Pan Alley.
In 1937, he made his Broadway debut as co-writer, composer, and lyricist of the topical revue Pins and Needles. Pins and Needles was originally written for a small theatrical production directed by Samuel Roland. After a 2-week professional run, it was adapted for performances by members of the then-striking International Garment Workers' Union as an entertainment for its members. Because Roland was associated with left-wing causes, he was asked by ILGWU president David Dubinsky to withdraw. The show was a huge success, running for 1108 performances, and prompted George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart to invite Rome to collaborate on another topical revue, Sing Out the News, in 1938.
In 1949, he wrote the English lyrics of the French song Mais qu’est-ce que j’ai ? which was written in 1947 by Henri Betti (music) and Édith Piaf (lyrics). The title song became What Can I Do ?.
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