The celebrated musical team of Rodgers and Hart came about when musician Richard Rodgers paired with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Rodgers, then only 17 years of age, went on to collaborate with Hart to create a musical revue, which hit theatres in 1925.  “The Garrick Gaieties” was initially scheduled for a two night run. Instead, it continued over several months and cemented one of the most successful musical partnerships of the early 20th century.
Lorenz Hart was an energetic and dynamic lyricist, whose talent was evident from an early age. During his teen years he first demonstrated his enthusiasm and talent when putting words to music at summer camps. Rodger’s musical talent emerged in much the same way, with his earliest work consisting of writing music for amateur theatre productions. By the time the pair first met, the 17 year old Rodgers had already completed study at Columbia University and expressed his strong admiration for the dynamic lyrics of Hart’s work.
Following their first meeting, Rodgers said later that the introduction provided him with “a career, a partner, and a best friend.” It was inevitable that the pair would work together, and they began to prepare from that point forward to find the break they both sought as a team. Their big break came on May 17, 1925, when the Garrick Theatre hosted the instantly successful “Garrick Gaieties.” The musical was to run briefly as a charity benefit performance. However, following the success of the main musical number “Manhattan,” the brief run extended to a massive 200 performances. The Rodgers and Hart team had arrived as a new musical force on Broadway.
The body of work produced by Rodgers and Hart was based on a naturally harmonious partnership. Hart’s ability as a lyricist was pushed along by Rodger’s musical inventiveness, while the more business-like Rodgers managed the sales side of things successfully. The team then forged opportunities to work with producers such as Lew Fields (Peggy-Ann), Ziegfield (Betsy) and CB Cochran in the UK.
The advent of the “talkies” had Hollywood calling the pair. The second musical that they produced for film secured their success in this medium, with the release of “Love me Tonight.” The songs “Lover” and “Isn’t it Romantic” gained widespread popularity.  The next musical they wrote was “I Married an Angel.” When MGM shelved the project, Rodgers and Hart rewrote it for Broadway and it had outstanding success on stage. So, MGM reconsidered the project. It was a hit, just like the play.
In the mid 1930’s, the musicals of Rodgers and Hart were rolling out at a rapid rate. “On your Toes” in 1936 was followed by “Babes in Arms” and “I’d Rather be Right” in 1937, “I Married an Angel” and “The Boys from Syracuse” in 1938, “Too Many Girls” in 1939, “Pal Joey” in 1940 and finally “By Jupiter” was released in 1942.
Sadly, personal problems for Hart and his descent into alcoholism saw the gradual breakdown of the musical partnership as their success escalated. The first of what would come to be many famous collaborative works with Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein was released early in 1943. A final attempt to pull the Rodgers and Hart partnership back together was made with the Broadway release of the reworked “A Connecticut Yankee” in 1943. Hart’s health by this time was seriously compromised, with his death coming just 5 days into the Broadway season of the last Rodgers and Hart musical.
The musical partnership of Rodgers and Hart generated some of the most innovative and successful musical comedies on Broadway and in Hollywood. With their collaboration spanning more than 20 years, the partnership of these two musical talents gave the world 28 Broadway musicals, eight Hollywood movies and some 500 plus songs. The rich musical legacy of Rodgers and Hart remains a fine reflection upon an extraordinary musical team.