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Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer of music, with over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant composers of 20th century American music. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. His compositions have had a significant impact on popular music. Rodgers was the first person to win what are considered the top American entertainment awards in television, recording, movies and Broadway – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award — now known collectively as an EGOT. In addition, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize, making him only one of two people to receive each award (Marvin Hamlisch is the other). Rodgers died in 1979 at the age of 77, after surviving cancer of the jaw, a heart attack, and a laryngectomy. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea. In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed "The Richard Rodgers Theatre" in his memory. In 1999, Rodgers and Hart were each commemorated on United States postage stamps. In 2002, the centennial year of Rodgers's birth was celebrated worldwide with books, retrospectives, performances, new recordings of his music, and a Broadway revival of Oklahoma!. The BBC Proms that year devoted an entire evening to Rodgers's music, including a concert performance of Oklahoma! The Boston Pops Orchestra released a new CD that year in tribute to Rodgers, entitled My Favorite Things: A Richard Rodgers Celebration. Several American schools are named after Richard Rodgers. Alec Wilder wrote the following about Rodgers: "Of all the writers whose songs are considered and examined in this book, those of Rodgers show the highest degree of consistent excellence, inventiveness, and sophistication...[A]fter spending weeks playing his songs, I am more than impressed and respectful: I am astonished." Richard Rodgers is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame. Along with the Academy of Arts and Letters, Rodgers also started and endowed an award for non-established musical theater composers to produce new productions either by way of full productions or staged readings. It is the only award for which the Academy of Arts and Letters accepts applications and is presented every year. Below are the previous winners of the award
Birthday: June 28, 1902
Death: December 30, 1979

May 24, 1934

September 26, 1999

August 18, 2010

April 13, 2021

March 29, 1965

January 01, 1983

February 22, 1965

March 31, 1957

March 19, 1958

May 06, 1952

March 19, 2022

October 14, 1939

November 02, 1997

March 19, 1967

October 25, 1957

August 18, 1932

October 10, 1939

December 20, 2006

December 31, 1948

October 10, 1955

April 13, 1930

June 01, 1929

October 08, 1940

June 29, 1956

March 26, 2001

February 16, 1956

March 19, 1999

August 29, 1945

March 09, 1962

May 07, 1967

December 06, 1962

May 22, 1936

May 26, 1955

April 26, 2013

November 29, 2018

July 09, 1942

July 30, 1940

November 24, 1933

October 12, 2011

March 28, 1931

May 09, 1956

April 01, 1934

December 20, 2015

December 05, 2013

November 09, 1961

November 26, 1955

May 04, 1934

September 23, 1932

March 22, 1935

January 30, 1931

October 10, 1930

March 06, 1995

August 02, 1954

March 12, 1955

January 21, 1956

August 30, 2024

November 15, 1967

September 26, 1930

June 24, 1943

February 14, 2024

October 12, 1953

August 01, 1930

February 03, 1933