From 1902 to 1979, Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer. From 1895 to 1960, Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was a lyricist, producer, and director of musicals. Each had around 900 songs to his name, as well as other notable accomplishments, many of which he achieved as part of the Rodgers and Hammerstein songwriting team.
When they were young, Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborated on a few songs before going their separate ways. Before returning to Hammerstein, Rodgers worked with lyricist Lorenz Hart for a long time. They met in 1919 and battled their way to their first hit, “Manhattan.” The Boys from Syracuse and Pal Joey are two of their most well-known musicals today. Some of their songs, such as “Blue Moon” and “My Funny Valentine,” are more well-known.
Hammerstein collaborated with a number of people, including Otto Harbach, with whom he had a long relationship, and Jerome Kern, with whom he wrote Showboat. Oklahoma! was their first collaboration after Rodgers and Hammerstein reunited. Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music were among their later works. These, along with Oklahoma!, were their most notable achievements. And all of these Broadway musicals went on to be successful as major motion pictures as well. Their television musical Cinderella was revived in 1997, starring Brandy and Whitney Houston.
Their musicals were not only memorable as a whole, but many of the songs from the films went on to become standards. “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” and “The Title Song” from Oklahoma!; “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel; “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific; “Getting to Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” and “Shall We Dance” from The King and I; and “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “
Rodgers and Hammerstein won a total of 35 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, and two Pulitzer Prizes. Rodgers won not only an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony, but also a Grammy and a Pulitzer Prize, making him one of only two people in history to do so.