Summary
American musician and satirist Tom Lehrer has passed away at the age of 97. He was known for his darkly humorous songs that gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. He also had a significant influence on modern comedians and spent much of his life in academia.
Key Facts
- Tom Lehrer was born in Manhattan in 1928 and was a classically trained pianist.
- He graduated early from high school and earned a math degree from Harvard at age 18.
- Lehrer was famous for comedic songs like "The Elements," "The Masochism Tango," and "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park."
- His album "Songs by Tom Lehrer" was a postal success, selling around 500,000 copies.
- The BBC banned most of the songs from this album when released.
- Lehrer wrote for the 1960s TV show "That Was the Week That Was" including controversial songs with political themes.
- He taught mathematics and musical theatre from 1972 to 2001.
- In 2020, Lehrer put his songs in the public domain, allowing free use of his work.
