Member-only story

Dorothy Fields: A Legacy in the American Musical Theater

Harold Powell

·10k Followers· Follow

Published in I Can T Give You Anything But Love Baby: Dorothy Fields And Her Life In The American Musical Theater

3 min read

346 View Claps

34 Respond

Save

Listen

Dorothy Fields (1905-1974) was an American lyricist who wrote songs for Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and popular music. She is best known for her collaborations with composers Jimmy McHugh, Jerome Kern, and Cy Coleman. Fields's songs are characterized by their wit, charm, and emotional depth, and they have been sung by some of the greatest performers in American music, including Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

Fields was born in New York City to a family of Russian immigrants. Her father was a tailor, and her mother was a homemaker. Fields began writing songs at a young age, and she had her first professional success in 1928 when she wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical The International Revue. In the 1930s, Fields collaborated with McHugh on a number of Broadway musicals, including Hello, Daddy! (1928),Blackbirds of 1928 (1928),and Keep Shufflin' (1928). These musicals were all critical and commercial successes, and they helped to establish Fields as one of the leading lyricists in the American musical theater.

I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby: Dorothy Fields and Her Life in the American Musical Theater

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3090 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	199 pages

In the 1940s, Fields began collaborating with Jerome Kern on a number of Broadway musicals, including Very Warm for May (1939),The Boys from Syracuse (1940),and Annie Get Your Gun (1946). These musicals were all critical and commercial successes, and they helped to make Fields one of the most successful lyricists in the American musical theater.

In the 1950s, Fields began collaborating with Cy Coleman on a number of Broadway musicals, including Wildcat (1960),Sweet Charity (1966),and Seesaw (1973). These musicals were all critical and commercial successes, and they helped to keep Fields at the forefront of the American musical theater.

Fields's songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists, including Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Tony Bennett. Her songs have also been featured in numerous films, including The Wizard of Oz (1939),Meet Me in St. Louis (1944),and Annie (1982).

Dorothy Fields was a brilliant lyricist who made a significant contribution to the American musical theater. Her songs are witty, charming, and emotionally resonant, and they continue to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

Here are some of Dorothy Fields's most famous songs: