Lorenz Hart

Lorenz Hart was born in New York City on May 2, 1895, the oldest of two sons of Frieda and Max Hart. Hart graduated from Columbia Grammar School and attended the Columbia School of Journalism. In the late teens a mutual friend introduced Hart to composer Richard Rodgers. Rodgers & Hart began their career writing the scores for amateur musicals presented at charity benefits and Columbia Varsity Shows. (One of their early efforts, Fly With Me in 1920, featured a score by Rodgers, Hart... and Hart's classmate, Oscar Hammerstein II.) Hart, who spoke fluent German and was a descendant of the tragic poet Heinrich Heine, also supported himself by translating operettas and plays for the Shuberts.