Jerry Bock

Jerry Bock was an American composer best known for his work in musical theater. Born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 23, 1928, Bock showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He studied music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later at the Manhattan School of Music.

Bock's first success in musical theater came in 1955 with the production of "Catch a Star," which he wrote with lyricist Larry Holofcener. However, it was his collaboration with lyricist Sheldon Harnick that would bring him his greatest success. The two first worked together on the 1958 musical "The Body Beautiful," but it was their next collaboration that would become a Broadway classic.

In 1960, Bock and Harnick teamed up with writer Joseph Stein to create "Fiddler on the Roof," a musical based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem. The show was a smash hit, running for over 3,000 performances on Broadway and winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The score, which included such classic songs as "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," and "Sunrise, Sunset," is still beloved by theater fans today.

Bock and Harnick continued to work together throughout the 1960s, creating such shows as "Fiorello!" (which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama), "She Loves Me," and "The Apple Tree." They also wrote the score for the 1971 film "The Rothschilds," which was based on their 1966 musical of the same name.

In addition to his work in musical theater, Bock also wrote music for television and film. He composed the score for the 1962 film "Tender Is the Night," as well as for several episodes of the TV series "Mr. Magoo" and "The Bell Telephone Hour."

Bock's career continued into the 21st century, with revivals of his classic shows and new productions of his work. In 2004, a Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof" starred Alfred Molina as Tevye and was well-received by audiences and critics alike.

Sadly, Jerry Bock passed away on November 3, 2010, at the age of 81. His contributions to the world of musical theater are immeasurable, and his legacy continues to live on through his timeless scores and beloved shows.