Tom Lehrer, a mathematician and satirist whose musical influence peaked in the 1950s and '60s with his topical songs, died on July 26th. He was 97.
As a lonely, nerdy teen, I spent many a happy hour listening to The Dr. Demento Radio Show. Not long after I became a regular listener, I heard the greatest song ever - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I was astounded! The next day, I just had to tell my dad. He held up one finger in a "wait a minute" gesture, and disappeared into his den. Emerging with a triumphant grin on his face (probably due to the fact that he'd actually been able to find something in there), he handed me two well-worn record albums - Tom Lehrer Revisited and An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer. I couldn't believe it. My dad was already hip to the scene.
I've inflicted this man's music on practically everyone I know. My husband and sons know many of his songs by heart . . . whether they want to or not. The albums are still played. The songs are still sung in the shower where (hopefully) no one can hear me.
Despite his success, Lehrer gave up performing for good in 1967. Instead, he turned his focus to teaching for the remainder of his career, including jobs at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California.
I think Lehrer himself said it best when he summed up his musical career with this line, "If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while."
If you've never heard any of the man's tunes, check out YouTube:
As a lonely, nerdy teen, I spent many a happy hour listening to The Dr. Demento Radio Show. Not long after I became a regular listener, I heard the greatest song ever - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I was astounded! The next day, I just had to tell my dad. He held up one finger in a "wait a minute" gesture, and disappeared into his den. Emerging with a triumphant grin on his face (probably due to the fact that he'd actually been able to find something in there), he handed me two well-worn record albums - Tom Lehrer Revisited and An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer. I couldn't believe it. My dad was already hip to the scene.
I've inflicted this man's music on practically everyone I know. My husband and sons know many of his songs by heart . . . whether they want to or not. The albums are still played. The songs are still sung in the shower where (hopefully) no one can hear me.
Despite his success, Lehrer gave up performing for good in 1967. Instead, he turned his focus to teaching for the remainder of his career, including jobs at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California.
I think Lehrer himself said it best when he summed up his musical career with this line, "If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while."
If you've never heard any of the man's tunes, check out YouTube:
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuML...
The Elements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcS3N...
We'll All Go Together When We Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoBr...