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Los Angeles Times
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Tom Lehrer, musical satirist, dies at 97
Tom Lehrer, an acerbic songwriter and Harvard-trained mathematician who rose to fame in the 1950s and '60s by pillorying the sensibilities of the day, has died at age 97. Lehrer died at his home in Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday. His death was confirmed by friends on Facebook. No cause of death was given. The bespectacled Lehrer began performing on college campuses and clubs across the country in the 1950s, playing the piano and singing darkly comedic numbers that he penned on topics such as racial conflict, the Catholic Church and militarism, earning him the sobriquet of 'musical nerd god.' In 'National Brotherhood Week,' which lampooned the brief interlude of imposed tolerance celebrated annually from the 1930s through the early 2000s he wrote: Oh, the white folks hate the black folksand the black folks hate the white folks,to hate all but the right folks is an old established rule …But during National Brotherhood Week (National Brotherhood Week),Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark are dancing cheek to fun to eulogizeThe people you despise,As long as you don't let 'em into your school. Lehrer's songs also took aim at then-taboo subjects such as sexuality, pornography and addiction. In 1953, his self-released album 'Songs of Tom Lehrer' became an underground hit. Produced for $40 and promoted by word of mouth, the cover image was of Lehrer in hell playing piano as the devil. It eventually sold an estimated 500,000 copies and sparked demand for concert performances around the world. During the mid-1960s, Lehrer contributed several songs to the satirical NBC news show 'That Was the Week That Was,' hosted by David Frost. The show inspired Lehrer's third album, 'That Was the Year That Was.' Released in 1965, it reached the 18th spot on American music charts. On the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2018, Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik wrote that Lehrer's lyrics were written 'with the facility of William S. Gilbert and tunes that evoked the felicity of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Lehrer's work bounced the absurdities and paranoias of that period back at us, in rhymed couplets and a bouncy piano beat.' Thomas Andrew Lehrer was born in New York City on April 9, 1928, to a middle-class family. His father James Lehrer was a successful necktie manufacturer. As a child he took piano lessons but preferred Broadway show tunes — with a particular affection for the works of Gilbert and Sullivan — to the classics. After entering Harvard University at age 15, his penchant for sardonic humor surfaced in his parody song 'Fight Fiercely Harvard,' which challenged the football team's reputation for toughness and earned him a measure of renown on campus. For a time he followed a dual track, music and academia, though he never completed the PhD thesis he began while pursuing doctoral studies at Harvard and Columbia University. After a two-year break between 1955 and 1957 when he served in the Army, Lehrer once again performed concerts across the U.S., Canada and Europe. In a 1959 Time article, the magazine described Lehrer and fellow comedians Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl as the symbols of a new 'sick' comedy. 'What the sickniks dispense is partly social criticism liberally laced with cyanide, partly a Charles Addams kind of jolly ghoulishness, and partly a personal and highly disturbing hostility toward all the world.' Lehrer's work opened the door for generations of musical satirists including Randy Newman and 'Weird Al' Yankovic and exerted an influence on everything from the musical skits of 'Saturday Night Live' to the mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap.' 'He set the bar for me — and provided an example of how a nerdy kid with a weird sense of humor could find his way in the world,' Yankovic once said of Lehrer. 'Done right, social criticism set to a catchy tune always makes politics easier to digest,' Lizz Winstead, co-creator of 'The Daily Show,' told Buzzfeed in an article examining Lehrer's influence on modern satirical comedy. But Lehrer was first and foremost an academic, over the course of his career teaching math and musical theater at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UC Santa Cruz and working for a time at the Atomic Energy Commission. He viewed entertainment largely as a sideline, and by the late 1960s had grown weary of life in the public eye. After several pauses to focus on his academic pursuits, he stepped off the stage in 1967 following a concert in Copenhagen. In 1971, he wrote songs for the PBS children's series 'The Electric Company.' His last turn in the spotlight was a year later. After performing at a presidential campaign rally for the Democratic nominee, South Dakota Sen. George S. McGovern, he gave up performing for good. Lehrer explained his retreat from the stage by saying that 'political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.' In an interview with the New York Times, he elaborated: 'The Vietnam War is what changed it. Everybody got earnest. My purpose was to make people laugh and not applaud. If the audience applauds, they're just showing they agree with me.' But audiences were not through with Lehrer. After nearly a decade in self-imposed exile, Lehrer became a hit once again in the early 1980s when Cameron Mackintosh, the British theatrical producer, created 'Tomfoolery,' a revue of Lehrer's songs that opened in London's West End before going to to play New York, Washington, Dublin and other cities. Despite the public acclaim, Lehrer maintained a fiercely private life. He never married nor did he have children. In 2020, Lehrer announced through his website that he was making all of the lyrics he wrote available to download for free without further permission, whether or not they were published or retained a copyright. Two years later he went further in relinquishing his rights, saying: 'In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don't send me any money.'
Express Tribune
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tom Lehrer, satirical songwriter and Harvard mathematician, dies at 97
Tom Lehrer, the mathematician-turned-musical satirist whose darkly witty songs earned him cult status in the 1950s and '60s, died Saturday at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 97. Lehrer, best known for songs like Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and The Vatican Rag, blended sardonic lyrics with cheerful melodies. A Harvard-trained mathematician, he juggled a brief but memorable music career with academia, teaching at Harvard, MIT, and UC Santa Cruz. His songwriting career began in college, where his parody pieces quickly gained attention. His 1953 debut album, Songs by Tom Lehrer, became a mail-order sensation, selling over 500,000 copies. His work was often controversial, tackling taboo subjects like religion, war, and vice with biting humor. Lehrer's output included politically charged songs for NBC's That Was the Week That Was and educational tunes for PBS's The Electric Company. Despite his popularity, he ended his performance career in 1967, saying he preferred writing over public applause. In a surprising move, Lehrer relinquished all rights to his music in 2020, allowing the public free use of his lyrics and melodies. He never married or had children and leaves no immediate survivors. Lehrer's influence lives on through generations of comedians and musicians who followed his unapologetic style of satire. His legacy, though rooted in humor, was one of sharp intellect, cultural critique, and enduring originality.
Economic Times
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Tom Lehrer, master of musical satire and mathematics, dies at 97
AP Tom Lehrer, song satirist and mathematician, dies at 97 Tom Lehrer, the renowned American satirist, singer-songwriter, and mathematician best known for his darkly humorous songs that skewered politics, social taboos, and the absurdities of the Cold War era, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 97 years old. Lehrer's longtime friend David Herder confirmed the news, though the cause of death has not been disclosed. Born on April 9, 1928, in Manhattan, New York, Lehrer was a mathematical prodigy who entered Harvard University at the age of 15. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics at just 18 and went on to obtain a master's degree from Harvard the following year. Though he began doctoral studies, he never completed his dissertation. Lehrer's academic career spanned teaching positions at prestigious institutions including Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he spent much of his later professional life devoted to education rather than entertainment. Lehrer first gained national recognition in the 1950s through self-produced albums that featured his clever, politically charged, and taboo-breaking songs. His work hit wider audiences in the 1960s when he was featured on the American television program That Was the Week That Was (TW3), a satirical news show hosted by David Frost. Lehrer's sharp wit and musical skill made him a cult favorite, with songs that remain influential for their cutting humor and musicality. His 1965 album That Was the Year That Was reached number 18 on the U.S. charts. His repertoire includes enduring classics such as 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,' 'The Masochism Tango,' 'Be Prepared' (a satire of the Boy Scouts), 'The Old Dope Peddler,' and 'The Vatican Rag,' which amusingly lampooned religion with lines like 'Down on your knees, genuflect, genuflect.' Lehrer's song 'The Elements' is famous for setting the names of chemical elements to the melody of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance and is regarded as one of the cleverest educational songs ever the success of his musical career and his wide influence—he inspired future musical parodists such as 'Weird Al' Yankovic—Lehrer largely abandoned performing and recording after the late 1960s to focus on his academic career. In 2020, he made headlines by relinquishing all rights to his songs, placing his work into the public domain for free public for his classical piano training starting at age seven, Lehrer admirably balanced his dual passions for music and mathematics throughout his life. Though he never married or had children, his legacy endures through his contributions to musical satire and the mathematics community.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tom Lehrer dies at 97: Satirical singer found dead at home; Harvard math genius famed for taboo-breaking songs
Tom Lehrer (Picture source: X) Tom Lehrer, the sharp-witted American singer and satirist known for his darkly comic songs, has died at the age of 97. He was found dead on Saturday at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lehrer first found fame in the 1950s with his self-produced albums, but it was the 1960s TV show That Was the Week That Was that brought his biting humour to a wider audience. Despite his cult following, Lehrer always saw himself primarily as a mathematician. He taught at Harvard, MIT and later at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he spent most of his later life. Known for tackling taboo topics through satire, such as war, drug use, and religion, Lehrer's songs like The Masochism Tango, Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, and The Vatican Rag pushed boundaries during the Eisenhower era. His 1965 album That Was the Year That Was hit No. 18 on the US charts. Born in New York to a Jewish family, Lehrer was a prodigy who entered Harvard at 15. Though he left showbiz early, his work remained popular, featured in radio shows, stage revues, and re-released albums. Lehrer never married and had no children.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Private Eye cartoonist Barry Fantoni dies aged 85
Private Eye cartoonist Barry Fantoni dies aged 85 The artist, who was also a jazz musician, designer, author and broadcaster, died on Tuesday at his home in Turin, Italy, from a heart attack Barry Fantoni has passed away aged 85 (Image: Corbis via Getty Images ) Private Eye cartoonist Barry Fantoni has died at the age of 85, the publication has announced. The artist, who was also a jazz musician, designer, author and broadcaster, died on Tuesday at his home in Turin, Italy, from a heart attack. Private Eye editor Ian Hislop said: "Barry was a brilliant multi-talented writer, artist and musician. "He was an integral part of Private Eye's comic writing team from the early days in the sixties and I hugely enjoyed collaborating with him when I joined the magazine later on. "He created formats and characters and jokes that are still running and he was for a long time the voice of the great poet and obituarist E J Thribb. So Farewell then Barry." Fantoni was a long-term stalwart of the Private Eye editorial team from 1963 and created some of its most famous characters, most notably fictitious obituary poet-in-residence, E J Thribb. Article continues below Best known for his work with the satirical magazine, Fantoni was also a diary cartoonist for news publication the Times and produced caricatures for listings magazine Radio Times from the mid 1960s. Entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth, former prime minister Harold Wilson, DJ Tony Blackburn and comedian Sir Ken Dodd were among the stars he turned into caricatures. Born on February 28 1940, he studied at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts from the age of 14 after accepting the Wedgewood Scholarship for the Arts. Following expulsion he moved to the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art and became a figure in the 1960s pop art movement. In the early half of the decade he wrote scripts for the BBC's satirical show, That Was the Week That Was, before presenting the corporation's fashion and music programme, A Whole Scene Going, which reflected on the tastes and times of Britain's under 21s and included big names like The Who, Sandie Shaw and Twiggy. He also had stints as the Times' art critic and was a record reviewer for Punch magazine in the 1970s. In 2010 he announced his retirement from Private Eye after 47 years. Speaking to the Independent about his departure, he said: "It was just time to leave. I'd done it. The establishment isn't even worth puncturing any more." In 2011 the cartoonist, who was also the author of several detective books, had his archive of 3,500 original Times cartoons auctioned at Bonhams for £4,200. Article continues below He leaves behind his partner Katie.
