Sheldon Harnick, the man behind the songs of the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof, passed away on Friday at the age of 99.
Harnik, who was responsible for some of Broadway's most important musicals, died at his home in Manhattan. He began working in music while still in high school where he attended in his teenage days in Chicago. At the end of his military service, he enrolled at Northstone University, where he graduated from the School of Music in the 40s. At the same time, he worked with various orchestras in Chicago.
The late Topol in Fiddler on the Roof, Photo: The Picture Desk
Later in life, Harnik moved to New York. Around the 50s, he created his first musical with his partner Jerry Bock. The musical was called "The Beautiful Body" and the two ran with it for several dozen performances. However, the duo's next musical, "Fiorello", has already become a huge success. The musical has recorded hundreds of performances – and even won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
Fiddler on the Roof, Harnick's most famous musical, premiered in 1964. In a short time, it became one of the most recognizable and beloved musicals on Broadway. The film based on it and screened in the 70s starred the late Haim Topol, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 87.
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