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Frank Loesser

フランク・ロイサー

Furanku Roissā

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1910-06-29 （Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.）
Died
1969-07-28 （East Harlem, New York, U.S.） age 59
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Manhattan, New York City (childhood) → Hollywood (early film career) → New York City (later Broadway career)

Career

Occupations
Composer, Lyricist, Librettist
Active Years
1931-1968
Affiliations
Frank Music Corporation, Music Theatre International, Leo Feist Inc.
Nominations
Academy Award nomination "Dolores" (1941), Academy Award nomination "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" (1943), Academy Award nomination "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" (1947), Academy Award nomination "Thumbelina" (1953)

Education

Townsend Harris High School
Country: United States
expelled
City College of New York
Period: 1924-1925
Country: United States
expelled after failing every subject except English and gym

Awards

Academy Award for Best Original Song
1950
Work: Baby, It's Cold Outside
Organization: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Result: Winner
Tony Award for Best Musical
1951
Work: Guys and Dolls
Organization: American Theatre Wing
Result: Winner
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1962
Work: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Organization: Columbia University
Result: Winner (shared)
Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
1962
Work: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Original Cast Album)
Organization: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Guys and Dolls

1950 Musical theatre

Broadway musical based on Damon Runyon's stories of gamblers and their romantic pursuits. Tony Award winner.

lucklovegamblingNew York underworld
Adaptations
  • [Film] Guys and Dolls / Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1955)

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

1961 Musical theatre

Satirical Broadway musical about corporate climbing. Pulitzer Prize winner.

ambitionbusinesssatiresuccess
Adaptations
  • [Film] How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying / David Swift (1967)

Where's Charley?

1948 Musical theatre

Musical adaptation of Brandon Thomas's play Charley's Aunt.

comedydisguisefriendship
Adaptations
  • [Film] Where's Charley? (1952)

The Most Happy Fella

1956 Musical

Opera-like musical about an Italian immigrant's romance.

loveagingimmigration

Greenwillow

1960 Musical

Musical fantasy set in a rural town.

fatefaithcommunity

Style & Themes

Literary Style
witty lyricsclever musical devicesuse of classical forms (e.g., fugue)
Recurring Motifs
satirecomplexities of romanceAmerican social mores

Health

  • lung cancer
    1960年代後半
    Heavy smoking led to the condition; died at age 59

Legacy

One of Broadway's greatest songwriters, renowned for witty lyrics and innovative compositions in shows like Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Archives

  • frankloesser.com

In Popular Culture

  • PBS documentary Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006)
  • Musical tribute Once in Love with Loesser (2013)

Trivia

  • Heavy smoker who died of lung cancer at 59.
  • Subject of the joke 'the evil of two Loessers' with brother Arthur Loesser.
  • Father Henry Loesser was a pianist but never taught him.
  • Wrote lyrics for over 700 songs.