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R.I.P. Charles Strouse, composer of ''All in the Family'' theme song and Broadway classics ''Annie'' and ''Bye Bye Birdie''
"Those Were the Days" reached 43 on the Billboard Charts and joined many of Strouse's other successful songs, like "Tomorrow", "Put on a Happy Face", and "You've Got Possibilities". The composer was 96.
Charles Strouse, Tony, Grammy and Emmy-award winning composer and lyricist known for the All in the Family theme song "Those Were the Days," as well as the music from the Broadway musicals Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, and Applause, has passed away.
Strouse formed a partnership with lyricist Lee Adams in 1952, and by 1960 the two wrote the music for their first Broadway music, Bye Bye Birdie. The original cast starred Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde and Dick Van Dyke, a year before The Dick Van Dyke Show would premiere, and won Van Dyke his first Tony Award. In 1963, the musical was adapted into a movie, with Van Dyke and Lynde reprising their roles and Ann-Margret appearing in a role credited for launching her into mainstream stardom.
Not all of Strouse's following productions were hits, however, they still made a mark; his next musical, All American, with a book by Mel Brooks, closed quickly but produced the standard "Once Upon a Time". Similarly, his 1966 musical It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman had a short run but produced the popular show tune "You've Got Possibilities."
1970's Applause won Strouse his second Tony Award (the first was for Bye Bye Birdie), and in 1977 he won a third with Annie, the musical based on the comic strip, which gave us the classic theatre songs "Tomorrow", "It's a Hard Knock Life", and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile". The musical also won a Grammy Award. Notably, the 1982 film adaptation earned Carol Burnett a Golden Globe nod.
However, TV fans may know his work best from All in the Family. Working again with lyricist Adams, Strouse composed the theme song "Those Were the Days". The iconic opening of Archie and Edith Bunker performing the tune at their piano was inspired by Strouse's childhood memories of playing music with his parents at home.
An extended version of "Those Were the Days" reached number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart and 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1972.
Strouse was unbothered by the fickle nature of success in the entertainment industry. "Everybody has flops," he said. "When I teach, the students say, ‘How can you work three or four years on a show … and it flops? How do you recover from that?’ The only answer is, you’ve done your best, it didn’t work, what’s next?"
Strouse was 96 years old.
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