Charles Strouse, Creator of 'Annie' and 'Bye Bye Birdie,' Passes Away at 96

Charles Strouse, the three-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist known for his contributions to musicals like "Annie" and "Bye Bye Birdie," passed away on Thursday. He was 96 years old.

The confirmation of this news came from the New York Times by Jim Byk, who speaks on behalf of the family.

Strouse composed music for more than 30 musicals, with 14 staged on Broadway. His debut on Broadway came with "Bye Bye Birdie" in 1960, earning him his first Tony Award.

His second Tony Award came for “Applause.”

It was “Annie” that brought Strouse his third Tony win. He teamed up with lyricist Martin Charnin and librettist Thomas Meehan. The Broadway musical ran for 2,377 performances and yielded productions around the world, Strouse's score included "Tomorrow," "It's the Hard–Knock Life," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," and "I Don't Need Anything But You."

Ac c ording to his biography Strouse was born and brought up in New York City, the offspring of Ira and Ethel (Newman) Strouse. Having graduated from the Eastman School of Music, Strouse received instruction from notable figures such as David Diamond, Aaron Copland, and Nadia Boulanger.

He has been admitted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame. The song "Those Were the Days," which he composed, was used for more than 200 installments of “All in the Family.”

Aside from his work on stage, Strouse also ventured into composing music for films. His musical score for "Bonnie & Clyde" earned him a Grammy nomination. Additionally, he created scores for movies such as "There Was a Crooked Man," "The Night They Raided Minsky's," Sidney Lumet’s "Just Tell Me What You Want," and the animated movie "All Dogs Go To Heaven."

Another notable project he worked on was "Golden Boy," which adapted Clifford Odets' renowned play featuring Sammy Davis Jr. This endeavor also garnered him another Tony nomination.

In 1986, Strouse worked together with fellow composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz on "Rags," which featured renowned opera singer Teresa Stratas.

To mark his 80th birthday in 2008, Strouse published his memoir titled "Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir." In this book, he recounted his adventures in Broadway and Hollywood, as well as collaborations with notable figures such as Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, and Warren Beatty.

He is survived by his children, Victoria Strouse, Nicholas Strouse, and Will Strouse.