Wonderful hearing this. Thank you. It's a joy to hear such an intelligent in depth interview with someone who has been the soundtrack and heartbeat of my musical life.
A revelation to say the least! Mr. Rodgers is candid though somewhat guarded. Some of the questions are tough but Rodgers highly intelligent answers act as shield. I learned more about the great composer of American Musical Theatre in these 30 minutes than in any biographical entry.
Rodgers was a born prodigy and probably didn't realize how outstanding he was among peers. It's definitely true he didn't like his music altered to extreme and actually sued some performers to sing the songs as he wrote the music. He WAS a shrewd businessman and put his money to very good use. He WAS generous and devoted his time to helping others. The R&H foundation WAS his creation & helps hundreds of musicians every year.
Tony Thomas also recorded radio interviews with Basil Rathbone,Edward G.Robinson,Stan Laurel,Bud Abbott,Fredrich March,Agnes Morehead,Nelson Eddy,Jeanette MacDonald,Robert Taylor,Francis X.Bushman,Buster Keaton,Harold Lloyd,Jack Benny,Bing Crosby and Walt Disney.
Fascinating interview. Rodgers is of, course, a giant. A glorious and inventive master of his art. It doesn't get better than Rodgers and Hart. Thomas did his home work, and attempts to cover challenging ground. He tries to probe Rodgers. How ever, as Agnes deMille once said, holding up a copy of Rodgers memoir "That man couldn't tell the truth and breathe." That certainly is the case here concerning Harts sexuality, despite Thomas insightfully citing Why Can't I. Granted it is 9 years before Stonewall. But Rodgers is equally misleading when he claims that he is not a businessman.
@@samlsmithmusic read A Ship Without A Sail: The Life of Lorenz Hart by Gary Marmorstein. An honest and thorough biography from 2013. Most libraries have it. There are honest bio's of Rodgers too, but I don't currently have access to my books.
I will do some research. Your comment does make it seem like Rodgers is a little sinister and I don’t see it, but I’m interested. I imagine back in the day talking money was uncouth as it is today too, and Rodgers’ estate is likely bathing in liquid gold
@@samlsmithmusic Read the Marmorstein's Hart biography, as I recall, it doesn't deny Rogers enormous talent, and also provides documented facts about his deplorable behavior in regards to the Hart estate. In1943 it was Hammerstein who intervened for Agnes DeMille, and got her a weekly fee of $50.00, after the huge financial $ucce$$ of Oklahoma. Rodgers would not. DeMille had initially got a flat fee of $500.00, no royalty percentage after the opening. Rodgers was OK with that. He played hardball in business and he could also write excellent lyrics.
Thank you for this great gift.
Truly wonderful to hear this very great composer speak about his work. Thank you!
Wonderful hearing this. Thank you. It's a joy to hear such an intelligent in depth interview with someone who has been the soundtrack and heartbeat of my musical life.
A revelation to say the least! Mr. Rodgers is candid though somewhat guarded. Some of the questions are tough but Rodgers highly intelligent answers act as shield. I learned more about the great composer of American Musical Theatre in these 30 minutes than in any biographical entry.
Fascinating. What a legacy he left in his songs and shows.
Rodgers was a great and inspired composer. Wonderful to hear him in this interview on the anniversary of his death (December 30).
It's interesting to actually hear Richard Rodgers playing his own songs
Only on TH-cam!
This is marvelous. Thank you.
Rodgers was a born prodigy and probably didn't realize how outstanding he was among peers. It's definitely true he didn't like his music altered to extreme and actually sued some performers to sing the songs as he wrote the music. He WAS a shrewd businessman and put his money to very good use. He WAS generous and devoted his time to helping others. The R&H foundation WAS his creation & helps hundreds of musicians every year.
Tony Thomas also recorded radio interviews with Basil Rathbone,Edward G.Robinson,Stan Laurel,Bud Abbott,Fredrich March,Agnes Morehead,Nelson Eddy,Jeanette MacDonald,Robert Taylor,Francis X.Bushman,Buster Keaton,Harold Lloyd,Jack Benny,Bing Crosby and Walt Disney.
Yes, also Oscar Hammerstein II and Irving Berlin, among other greats.
Are the recorded interviews with Oscar Hammerstein The II and Irving Berlin available here at "You Tube"..Violin Piano?
RICHARD RODGERS is BROADWAY's greatest composer.I say is because DICK might have died in 1979,but his music lives on.
Instant melody man.
Genius
Fascinating interview. Rodgers is of, course, a giant. A glorious and inventive master of his art. It doesn't get better than Rodgers and Hart. Thomas did his home work, and attempts to cover challenging ground. He tries to probe Rodgers. How ever, as Agnes deMille once said, holding up a copy of Rodgers memoir "That man couldn't tell the truth and breathe." That certainly is the case here concerning Harts sexuality, despite Thomas insightfully citing Why Can't I. Granted it is 9 years before Stonewall. But Rodgers is equally misleading when he claims that he is not a businessman.
Can you elaborate? I’m interested and know little of Rodgers, though I excuse him keeping omerta as to his friend Harts sexuality
@@samlsmithmusic read A Ship Without A Sail: The Life of Lorenz Hart by Gary Marmorstein. An honest and thorough biography from 2013. Most libraries have it. There are honest bio's of Rodgers too, but I don't currently have access to my books.
I will do some research. Your comment does make it seem like Rodgers is a little sinister and I don’t see it, but I’m interested. I imagine back in the day talking money was uncouth as it is today too, and Rodgers’ estate is likely bathing in liquid gold
@@samlsmithmusic Read the Marmorstein's Hart biography, as I recall, it doesn't deny Rogers enormous talent, and also provides documented facts about his deplorable behavior in regards to the Hart estate. In1943 it was Hammerstein who intervened for Agnes DeMille, and got her a weekly fee of $50.00, after the huge financial $ucce$$ of Oklahoma. Rodgers would not. DeMille had initially got a flat fee of $500.00, no royalty percentage after the opening. Rodgers was OK with that. He played hardball in business and he could also write excellent lyrics.
I think Rogers saying Hart "had no extraordinary interest in woman" is about as far as he could go in a public interview at that time.
One of the true all-time greats. The Rodgers & hart songs are better than the Rodgers & Hammerstein songs, in my opinion.
❤️
This is how musicals should sound. Not popmusic with some dialoge in between.
Lorenz Hart lyric: "I'll go to hell for ya--or Philadelphia!"
Try reading "Shy"--written by his daughter Mary Rodgers.
Who is composing today? So sad.