Today we remember Richard Rodgers and his incredible
contribution to musical theater and popular song on what would
be his 110th birthday! Rodgers (1902-1979) wrote more than 900
songs and composed for 43 musicals and left an immeasurable
impact on the American songbook, influencing arts from the
worlds of pop, classical, jazz, and beyond. Rodgers’ music,
whether in collaboration with Hart and Hammerstein, or his
independent projects, truly crosses and connects generations of
listeners – my grandparents, parents, and I are equally
entertained and moved by “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Some Enchanted
Evening,” and “Oklahoma!,” to name only a few of the myriad of
classic melodies with which he graced us. The Music Division is
privileged to hold the Richard Rodgers Collection, an archival
collection that contains Rodgers’ music manuscripts for most of
his works, including sketches and fair copies (final drafts in
his hand). I personally had not taken the opportunity to examine
Rodgers’ manuscripts until this week, whe