Renowned song satirist Tom Lehrer, known for his witty commentary on marriage, politics, racism, and the Cold War, has passed away at the age of 97. A mathematician by profession, Lehrer transitioned to teaching math at top universities like Harvard and the University of California at Santa Cruz well into his late 70s.
Lehrer’s music career began in the early 1950s, where he composed songs for his friends and performed them at coffeehouses around Cambridge. His breakthrough came with his first record “Songs by Tom Lehrer” released in 1953. He went on to release several albums, including “More of Tom Lehrer,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for best comedy performance.
Despite touring extensively, Lehrer largely quit performing and returned to teaching math, citing discomfort with public appearances. However, he continued to write and perform satirical songs, even producing music for children’s shows like “The Electric Company.” His work was revived in the 1980s musical revue “Tomfoolery” and earned him widespread recognition.
Lehrer’s unique blend of erudite humor and incisive commentary made him a beloved figure among musicians, including Stephen Sondheim, Randy Newman, and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Musicologist Barry Hansen described Lehrer as the most brilliant song satirist ever recorded, while Lehrer himself said he wrote songs based on funny ideas that came to him.
Throughout his career, Lehrer remained committed to using his platform to address serious issues with humor and wit. In 2020, he even relinquished his copyright to allow public use of his lyrics without fees, a testament to his commitment to sharing laughter and commentary with the world.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/tom-lehrer-song-satirist-mathematician-dies-97-124119855