Jerry Ross

Jerry Ross was born Jerold Rosenberg to Jewish parents in the Bronx, New York on March 9,1926. When be was ten years old he began singing in a synagogue choir. Based on his singing ability, he was asked to join a Yiddish acting company, the East Bronx Theatre. By the time he was in high school. he had joined other such groups with more professional background. Ross began writing songs while in high school, and then took music courses at New York University. He continued composing songs during summers on the entertainment staffs at the Catskill resorts, but had no success until he met Richard Adler in 1950, and they began collaborating on music and lyrics.

In 1951, Frank Loesser hired them as staff writers for his publishing house. After a few minor successes, their song "Rags to Riches" was a #1 hit for Tony Bennett in 1953. That same year, they wrote several songs for John Murray Anderson's Almanac revue, and director-librettist George Abbott contracted them to write the score for his new musical The Pajama Game.

The show, starring John Raitt and Janis Paige, opened on Broadway in May 1954, ran for 1,063 performances, and won the '17ony Award for Best Musical. It was based on Richard Bissell's novel 7'2 Cents, and was set against a backdrop of union and management relations at the Sleeptite Pajama Factory. Songs from the score included "Steam Heat," "Small I 17alk," and "Hey There," which was a #1 hit for Rosemary Clooney. Doris Day, Rain, and most of the Broadway cast were featured in the 1957 movie version.

In May 1955, the duo's second Broadway musical, Damn Yankees, starring Gwen Verdon, Stephen Douglass and Ray Walston, opened, ran for 1,019 performances, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. It was based on Douglas Wallop's book, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, which updated the legend of Faust when a middle-aged baseball fan sells his soul to the Devil for the chance to play for the Washington Senators. Well-known songs from this score included "Fleart" and "Whatever Lola Wants." The 1958 movie version starred Verdon, Walston, and Tab Hunter.

Ross' successful career was cut short when he died at age 29 on November 11. 1. 95 5, of a lung ailment related to chronic bronchitis.