Tom Lehrer, the American musical comedy legend, mathematician and political satirist, has died at the age of 97. He passed away on July 26 at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to his longtime friend David Herder. No cause of death was given.
Lehrer was best known for his darkly humorous songs such as “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and “The Vatican Rag,” which satirised mid-20th century America and the wider world. He performed with a light Broadway showtune style, accompanying himself on the piano, and often quipped: “Always predict the worst, and you’ll be hailed as a prophet.”
Born on April 9, 1928, in New York City, Lehrer was a math prodigy who graduated from Harvard at 19. He later taught at Harvard, MIT, Wellesley and the University of California, Santa Cruz, retiring in 2001. His musical career included albums like Songs by Tom Lehrer and a Grammy nomination in 1960 for Best Comedy Performance (Musical).
Lehrer composed songs for the NBC show That Was the Week That Was (1963-65), which inspired Saturday Night Live. He also wrote for the BBC’s The Frost Report and PBS’s The Electric Company. His song “The Elements,” set to Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Major-General’s Song,” remains a favourite.
Influencing artists like Randy Newman and “Weird Al” Yankovic, Lehrer was also admired by actor Daniel Radcliffe, who recited “The Elements” on The Graham Norton Show. Lehrer largely retreated from public life in the 1970s, focusing on academia until his death.
