Lee Adams

Tony Award-winning Lee Adams actually began his professional career as a working journalist, having first gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Ohio State University, and later, a Master's clegreefrom the renowned Columbia School of journalism in New York.

For 10 years following his Master's degree in 1950, he worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, and radio writer and interviewer. He hit paydirt for the first time in the world of theater-writing with his lyrics to what was to become a Broadway musical classic, "Bye Bye Birdie," on which he collaborated with composer Charles Strouse. During the 10 years Adams worked in journalism, he was also actively writing songs with Strouse for more than 20 nightclub and theatrical revues in New York and London as well as other cities.

Adams received the first of his two Antoinette Perry (Tony) awards for "Bye Bye Birdie," an event which simply encouraged him to keep turning out lyrics. And he did just that, for such shows as "All American " with Ray Bolger i n 1962; "Golden Boy," with Sammy Davis, Jr, in 1964; It's Superman" in 1966 and "Applause," starring Lauren Bacall in 1970, for which he received his second Tony award.

In addition to his notable Broadway and London West End credits, Adams, with Strouse, wrote a much-acclaimed London musical, "I and Albert," in 1972. Thereafter, Adams became active in films and television. His theme for TVs long-running "All in the Family," titled "Those Were the Days," has been heard more often than any other television theme. He also wrote the lyrics for the acclaimed film, "The Night They Raided Minsky's."

Among his prodigious output of songs, a number have become legitimate standards. These include "Put on a Happy Face," "Kids," "One Boy," "Applause," "Night Song," "Once Upon a Time," "This is Your Life, " "You've Got Possibilities," "I Want to Be with You" and "A Lot of Living to Do." Adams is presently at work on lyrics to Mitch Leigh's music for "Mike" a new Broadway musical scheduled to go into rehearsal in the fall of this year (1989).