Editing Jerry Ross (composer)

{{Short description|American lyricist and composer (1926–1955)}}
{{About|the composer known for working with Richard Adler|the songwriter who worked with Kenny Gamble|Jerry Ross (record producer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name            = Jerry Ross
| image           =  
| caption         = 
| image_size      =  
| background      = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name      = Jerold Rosenberg
| alias           = 
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1926|3|9}}
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1955|11|11|1926|3|9}}
| birth_place     = [[The Bronx]], New York City, U.S.
| instrument      = 
| genre           = 
| occupation      = Lyricist, composer
| years_active    = 
| label           = 
| associated_acts = [[Richard Adler]]
| website         = 
}}
'''Jerry Ross''' (born '''Jerold Rosenberg'''; March 9, 1926 – November 11, 1955) was an American lyricist and composer whose works with [[Richard Adler]] for the [[musical theater]] include ''[[The Pajama Game]]'' and ''[[Damn Yankees]]'', winners of [[Tony Award]]s in 1955 and 1956, respectively, in both the "Best Musical" and "Best Composer and Lyricist" categories.

==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]].''

==Death==
Jerry Ross died on November 11, 1955, at the age of 29, from complications related to the lung disease [[bronchiectasis]]. In his short life, Ross was extremely productive; he wrote, alone or in collaboration, more than 250 songs in addition to his theatre work.

Ross was entered posthumously into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 1982,<ref>[https://www.songhall.org/profile/Jerry_Ross "Jerry Ross"] songhall.org. Retrieved August 3, 2018.</ref> his widow, Judy, and daughter, Janie, accepting on his behalf.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*Biography on [http://www.mtishows.com/people/jerry-ross Music Theater International] site
*[http://www.jerryross.net The Jerry Ross Official website]
*[http://songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C41 Jerry Ross] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110823131017/http://songwritershalloffame.org/ Songwriters Hall of Fame]
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{{Adler-Ross pop song}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Jerry}}
[[Category:American musical theatre composers]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre composers]]
[[Category:American musical theatre lyricists]]
[[Category:Musicians from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Jewish American songwriters]]
[[Category:Broadway composers and lyricists]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung disease]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American songwriters]]