R.I.P.: Charles Strouse, Renowned Broadway Composer

Charles Strouse, the renowned Broadway composer behind the iconic musicals Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, passed away Thursday, at his home in Manhattan, New York City. 

He was 96.

The NY Times reports his death was confirmed by his family through a press representative, Jim Byk, though no specific cause was disclosed. Strouse’s seven-decade career left an indelible mark on musical theater, television, and film, earning him three Tony Awards, two Grammys, and an Emmy for his melodic, optimistic scores.

Born on June 7, 1928, in New York City to Jewish parents Ethel and Ira Strouse, Charles Strouse initially aimed to compose "serious music." A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he studied under luminaries like Aaron Copland at Tanglewood and Nadia Boulanger in Paris. 

His Broadway career began unexpectedly when a stage manager pitched a musical about teenagers, initially called Let’s Go Steady, which became Bye Bye Birdie (1960). It was Strouse’s first Broadway hit, with lyrics by longtime collaborator Lee Adams, satirized rock-and-roll culture and Elvis Presley’s draft. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera, it won four Tonys, including Best Musical, and introduced standards like “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.” Adapted into a 1963 film and a 1995 TV movie, it earned Strouse a 1996 Emmy for the song “Let’s Settle Down.” The show remains a staple in community and high school theaters.

Annie in 1977 was Strouse’s biggest success, created with lyricist Martin Charnin and bookwriter Thomas Meehan, adapted the Little Orphan Annie comic strip. Running for 2,377 performances, it won seven Tonys, including Best Musical and Best Score, and two Grammys for its cast album. Songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” became cultural touchstones, with the latter sampled by Jay-Z in his 1998 hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).” Annie inspired two Broadway revivals, four film/TV adaptations, and global productions in 57 countries.

Strouse’s music, known for its catchy, optimistic melodies, defined mid-20th-century Broadway’s feel-good era. His songs, recorded by artists like Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Jay-Z, permeated popular culture, with “Tomorrow” sung by everyone from Ariana Grande to Kermit the Frog. Annie alone inspired 10,000 productions worldwide since 1990, introducing countless children to theater.