Charles Strouse (born June 7, 1928) is a three-time Tony Award-winning Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Strouse (born June 7, 1928) is a three-time Tony Award-winning American composer and lyricist.
Strouse was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ira and Ethel (Newman) Strouse. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Strouse studied under David Diamond, Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger.
Strouse's first Broadway musical was the 1960 hit Bye Bye Birdie, with lyrics by Lee Adams, who would become his long time collaborator. Strouse won his first Tony Award for best score for this musical, which is considered the precursor of the rock musical. Strouse's next show, All American, with a book by Mel Brooks and lyrics by Adams, came in 1962 and produced the standard “Once Upon a Time” (recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin, among others). Following this was Golden Boy (1964, also with Adams), starring Sammy Davis Jr. and It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966, based on the popular comic strip)which introduced the song "You've Got Possibilities" sung by Linda Lavin.
In 1970, Applause (starring Lauren Bacall, with book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and lyrics by Adams) won Strouse his second Tony Award. In 1977, Mr. Strouse adapted another comic strip for the stage, creating the hit Annie, which garnered him his third Tony Award and two Grammy Awards. Other Strouse musicals include Charlie and Algernon (1979), Dance a Little Closer (1983, with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner), Rags (1986) and Nick & Nora (1993). Strouse also wrote a number of musical revues, many with Adams.
Strouse’s film scores include the classics Bonnie and Clyde (1967), There Was a Crooked Man... (1970, with Henry Fonda and Kirk Douglas), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968, with Adams) and the popular animated movie All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). He and Adams also wrote the theme song “Those Were the Days” for the television show All in the Family. Strouse’s songs have been heard on the radio throughout his career and have run the gamut from girl-band pop to hip hop. In 1958, his song “Born Too Late” was number one on the Billboard charts, and in 1999 the quadruple platinum “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by artist Jay-Z was the winner of a Grammy for Best Rap Album of the year & the Billboard R&B Album of the Year.
Strouse’s writing also extends into orchestral works, chamber music, piano concertos and opera. His Concerto America, composed in 2002 to commemorate 9/11 and the spirit of New York City, premiered at The Boston Pops in 2004, and his opera Nightingale (1982), starring Sarah Brightman, had a successful run in London, followed by many subsequent productions. In 1977, Strouse founded the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in New York, through which many young composers and lyricists have found a forum for their work.
Upcoming works by Strouse include an adaptation of the Paddy Chayevsky film Marty starring John C. Reilly, a musical version of The Night They Raided Minsky's, and an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Real Men, for which Mr. Strouse wrote the music and lyrics, premiered in January 2005 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, FL , and his musical Studio, premiered at Theatre Building Chicago in August 2006.
Strouse has won Emmy Awards for music in television adaptions of Bye Bye Birdie and Annie. He is also the recipient of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein Awards. He is also a member of the Theater Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Strouse is married to director-choreographer Barbara Siman. They have 4 children: Benjamin, Nicholas, Victoria, and William.
Musicals
* Bye Bye Birdie (1960)
* All American (1962)
* Golden Boy (1964)
* It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966)
* Applause (1970)
* I and Albert (1972, London)
* Annie (1977)
* A Broadway Musical (1978)
* Charlie and Algernon (1979, London, as Flowers for Algernon); (1981)
* Bring Back Birdie (1981)
* Nightingale (1982; this work is often described as an opera)
* Dance a Little Closer (1983)
* Mayor (1985)
* Rags (1986)
* Nick & Nora (1993)
* Annie Warbucks (1993)
Film scores
* Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
* The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968)
* There Was a Crooked Man (1970)
* Just Tell Me What You Want (1980)
* Ishtar (1987)
* All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
Strouse was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ira and Ethel (Newman) Strouse. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Strouse studied under David Diamond, Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger.
Strouse's first Broadway musical was the 1960 hit Bye Bye Birdie, with lyrics by Lee Adams, who would become his long time collaborator. Strouse won his first Tony Award for best score for this musical, which is considered the precursor of the rock musical. Strouse's next show, All American, with a book by Mel Brooks and lyrics by Adams, came in 1962 and produced the standard “Once Upon a Time” (recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin, among others). Following this was Golden Boy (1964, also with Adams), starring Sammy Davis Jr. and It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966, based on the popular comic strip)which introduced the song "You've Got Possibilities" sung by Linda Lavin.
In 1970, Applause (starring Lauren Bacall, with book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and lyrics by Adams) won Strouse his second Tony Award. In 1977, Mr. Strouse adapted another comic strip for the stage, creating the hit Annie, which garnered him his third Tony Award and two Grammy Awards. Other Strouse musicals include Charlie and Algernon (1979), Dance a Little Closer (1983, with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner), Rags (1986) and Nick & Nora (1993). Strouse also wrote a number of musical revues, many with Adams.
Strouse’s film scores include the classics Bonnie and Clyde (1967), There Was a Crooked Man... (1970, with Henry Fonda and Kirk Douglas), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968, with Adams) and the popular animated movie All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). He and Adams also wrote the theme song “Those Were the Days” for the television show All in the Family. Strouse’s songs have been heard on the radio throughout his career and have run the gamut from girl-band pop to hip hop. In 1958, his song “Born Too Late” was number one on the Billboard charts, and in 1999 the quadruple platinum “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by artist Jay-Z was the winner of a Grammy for Best Rap Album of the year & the Billboard R&B Album of the Year.
Strouse’s writing also extends into orchestral works, chamber music, piano concertos and opera. His Concerto America, composed in 2002 to commemorate 9/11 and the spirit of New York City, premiered at The Boston Pops in 2004, and his opera Nightingale (1982), starring Sarah Brightman, had a successful run in London, followed by many subsequent productions. In 1977, Strouse founded the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in New York, through which many young composers and lyricists have found a forum for their work.
Upcoming works by Strouse include an adaptation of the Paddy Chayevsky film Marty starring John C. Reilly, a musical version of The Night They Raided Minsky's, and an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Real Men, for which Mr. Strouse wrote the music and lyrics, premiered in January 2005 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, FL , and his musical Studio, premiered at Theatre Building Chicago in August 2006.
Strouse has won Emmy Awards for music in television adaptions of Bye Bye Birdie and Annie. He is also the recipient of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein Awards. He is also a member of the Theater Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Strouse is married to director-choreographer Barbara Siman. They have 4 children: Benjamin, Nicholas, Victoria, and William.
Musicals
* Bye Bye Birdie (1960)
* All American (1962)
* Golden Boy (1964)
* It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966)
* Applause (1970)
* I and Albert (1972, London)
* Annie (1977)
* A Broadway Musical (1978)
* Charlie and Algernon (1979, London, as Flowers for Algernon); (1981)
* Bring Back Birdie (1981)
* Nightingale (1982; this work is often described as an opera)
* Dance a Little Closer (1983)
* Mayor (1985)
* Rags (1986)
* Nick & Nora (1993)
* Annie Warbucks (1993)
Film scores
* Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
* The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968)
* There Was a Crooked Man (1970)
* Just Tell Me What You Want (1980)
* Ishtar (1987)
* All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
overture
Charles Strouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls:
We love you Conrad
Oh yes we do
We love you Conrad
And will be true
When you're not near us
We're blue
Oh, Conrad, we love you
We love you Conrad!
We love you Conrad!
We love you Conrad
Oh yes we do
We love you Conrad
And will be true
When you're not near us
We're blue
Oh, Conrad, we love you
We love you Conrad!
The lyrics to Charles Strouse's song Overture are full of exuberance, joy, and admiration. The above excerpt is sung by an all-girl group, who are expressing their love and affection for Conrad, the male lead of the musical. The lyrics effectively communicate the girls' infatuation with him and their heart-felt admiration for his character. The repetition of "We love you Conrad" sets the tone of the song, and the use of the word "true" implies that they are committed to their feelings, even in his absence. The use of "blue" in the line "When you're not near us / We're blue" highlights the girls' melancholic feelings when apart from their beloved Conrad. Overall, the lively and romantic nature of the lyrics give the impression of sweet puppy love.
Line by Line Meaning
We love you Conrad
Conrad, we hold a strong fondness for you
Oh yes we do
Without a doubt, our feelings are sincere
And will be true
We will remain faithful to you and your heart
When you're not near us
In your absence, we feel downhearted
We're blue
We are sad and distressed
Oh, Conrad, we love you
Conrad, our love for you is genuine
We love you Conrad!
Conrad, we have a great affection towards you
We love you Conrad!
Conrad, we deeply care for you
Contributed by Mila C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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