Jerry Bock American composer Date of Birth: 23.11.1928 Country: USA

Biography of Jerry Bock

Jerry Bock was an American composer, known for his work in theater productions and musicals. He was a two-time Tony Award winner and was born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in Flushing, Queens, New York. Bock began playing the piano as a child and continued his passion for music at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It was during his time at the university that Bock wrote his first musical, "Big As Life," which he toured across the country before settling in Chicago.

After completing his studies, Bock spent three summers with the theater group Tamiment Playhouse in the Poconos. During this time, he also collaborated with Larry Holofcener on writing revues. Bock made his Broadway debut in 1955 with the songs he co-wrote with Holofcener for the production "Catch a Star." The following year, they achieved success with the musical "Mr. Wonderful." Bock also worked briefly on the classic production "Ziegfeld Follies." However, it was with Sheldon Harnick that Bock found his greatest success.

Bock and Harnick collaborated on their first project together, "The Body Beautiful," which received mixed reviews. Fortunately, the musical caught the attention of director George Abbott and producer Hal Prince. They hired Bock and Harnick to work on the musical biography of former New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia. The musical "Fiorello!" premiered in 1959, and Bock and Harnick received their first Tonys, as well as a Pulitzer Prize for their work on the show.

Among their other successful collaborations, Bock and Harnick worked on productions such as "Tenderloin," "Man in the Moon," "She Loves Me," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Apple Tree," and "The Rothschilds." They also worked on shows like "Never Too Late," "Baker Street," and "The Madwoman of Central Park West." Bock's popular song "If I Were a Rich Man" received critical acclaim.

In 1997, Jerry Bock received a rare honor when a new award was created in his name. The Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theater is given each year to the composer and lyricist of the most successful project, supported by the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. Bock continued his active career as a theater composer until his death. He passed away on November 3, 2010, at the age of 81 from heart failure, just ten days after delivering a eulogy for the legendary playwright Joseph Stein, who had written "Fiddler on the Roof."

Throughout his career, Jerry Bock received two Tony Awards, one for Best Musical in 1965 and another as Best Composer/Lyricist with Harnick. He was nominated four more times but did not win again.