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Jerry Ross (composer)
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==Biography== Jerold Rosenberg was born in [[the Bronx]], New York City, to a [[Russian-Jewish]] household,<ref>[https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/jerry-ross/ "Jerry Ross"] masterworksbroadway.com.</ref> to immigrant parents, Lena and Jacob Rosenberg. Growing up, he was a professional singer and actor in the [[Yiddish theater]].<ref name=all>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-ross-mn0000847703 "Jerry Ross Biography"] AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2018.</ref> Following high school, he studied at [[New York University]] under Rudolph Schramm. Introductions to singer [[Eddie Fisher]] and others brought him into contact with music publishers at the [[Brill Building]], the center of songwriting activity in New York. (Fisher later had a hit with Ross’ ''The Newspaper Song''.) Ross met [[Richard Adler]] in 1950,<ref name=all/> and as a duo they became protégés of the great composer, lyricist, and publisher [[Frank Loesser]]. Their song ''[[Rags to Riches (1953 song)|Rags to Riches]]'' was recorded by [[Tony Bennett]] and reached number 1 on the charts in 1953.<ref name=all/> They also had a jazz novelty hit with [[Anita O'Day]]'s recording of "No Soap, No Hope Blues".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/composition/17ac51a0-c529-4a1e-8d6f-a5ced75bec23-No-Soap-No-Hope-Blues|title=No Soap, No Hope Blues|publisher=discogs}}</ref> Adler and Ross began their career in the Broadway theater with ''[[John Murray Anderson's Almanac]]'', a revue for which they provided most of the songs (resulting in recordings of ''Acorn in the Meadow'' by [[Harry Belafonte]] and ''Fini'' by [[Polly Bergen]]). The revue opened in 1953 and ran for 229 performances.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/john-murray-andersons-almanac-imperial-theatre-vault-0000006060 "John Murray Anderson’s Almanac"] ''Playbill''. Retrieved August 3, 2018.</ref> Adler and Ross's second effort, ''[[The Pajama Game]]'', opened on Broadway in May 1954. It was a popular as well as critical success, running for 1063 performances. The show won the 1955 [[Tony Award for Best Musical]]<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/the-pajama-game-6904 ''The Pajama Game''] ibdb.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.</ref> as well as the [[Donaldson Award]] and the [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] Drama Critics Award. Two songs from the show, "[[Hernando's Hideaway]]" (for [[Archie Bleyer]]) and "[[Hey There]]" (for [[Rosemary Clooney]]), topped the [[Hit parade|Hit Parade]]. Other notable songs were "[[Steam Heat]]" (choreographed on stage by [[Bob Fosse]]), "Small Talk", and "Seven and a Half Cents". Their next musical, ''[[Damn Yankees]]'', opened on Broadway in 1955, starring [[Gwen Verdon]]. The musical ran for 1,019 performances. Adler and Ross, as composer and lyricist, shared in the 1956 [[Tony Award for Best Musical]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/damn-yankees-46th-street-theatre-vault-0000003118# ''Damn Yankees''] ''Playbill''. Retrieved August 3, 2018.</ref> Pop hits from the show were "[[Heart (Damn Yankees)|Heart]]", recorded by [[Eddie Fisher]], and "[[Whatever Lola Wants]]" for [[Sarah Vaughan]].''
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