Photo : AP
The world has lost a very unique voice. Tom Lehrer, the American musician, comedian, and satirist, has passed away at the age of 97. His death was confirmed by his friend David Herder, according to reports in U.S. media.
Tom Lehrer was not a regular musician. He used humor and music to talk about serious topics like politics, war, religion, and science. His songs were funny, but they also made people think. Many modern artists, including "Weird Al" Yankovic, say they were inspired by Lehrer's clever and bold style.
Tom Lehrer was born in Manhattan, New York in 1928. From a young age, he showed great talent in both music and math. He learned to play the piano as a child and studied at top schools. He finished high school early and went to Harvard University at the age of 15. He got his bachelor's degree in mathematics at just 18 and later began work on a PhD at Columbia University, though he never completed it.
While studying at Harvard, Lehrer started writing funny songs to entertain his friends. These songs later became very popular with the public.
Lehrer’s songs were known for their dark jokes and clever lyrics. Some of his best-known songs include:
Many of his songs made fun of powerful institutions. For example, “The Vatican Rag” joked about the Catholic Church, while others criticized war and nuclear weapons. Some of his songs were even banned by the BBC in the 1950s.
In 1953, Lehrer released his first album, Songs by Tom Lehrer. He sold the album himself through the mail. It became a surprise hit, selling over 500,000 copies through word of mouth. He began performing at nightclubs and for political and anti-war events in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
In the 1960s, Lehrer wrote songs for the American version of the British TV show That Was the Week That Was. These songs were collected in an album in 1965.
In the 1970s, Lehrer also wrote for a children’s educational TV show called The Electric Company, showing his range as a musician. He later returned to teaching and spent nearly 30 years as a math and musical theatre teacher at the University of California.
Even though Tom Lehrer was famous, he preferred to live a quiet life. He did not enjoy being in the spotlight and chose not to continue his music career in a big way.
In 2020, Lehrer made a big decision. He gave up all rights to his songs and recordings. He said that anyone could use, perform, or record his music for free. He wrote on his website:
“In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don’t send me any money.”
Tom Lehrer’s music is still loved by fans of all ages. His songs are shared online, performed by students, and studied by musicians and comedians. His work was smart, funny, and brave. He spoke about hard topics in a way that made people laugh, think, and question the world around them.
Even though he stopped performing many years ago, his influence is still strong today. He taught us that music doesn’t have to be serious to say something important.
Tom Lehrer may be gone, but his voice will never be forgotten.
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