Robert Wright

Robert Craig Wright (September 25, 1914 – July 27, 2005) was an American composer-lyricist for Hollywood and the musical theatre, best known for the Broadway musical and musical film Kismet, for which he and his professional and romantic partner George Forrest adapted themes by Alexander Borodin and added lyrics. Kismet was one of several Wright and Forrest creations that was commissioned by impresario Edwin Lester for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. Song of Norway, Gypsy Lady, Magdalena, and their adaptation of The Great Waltz were also commissioned by Lester for the LACLO. The LACLO passed most of these productions to Broadway.

Wright was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Wright and Forrest had an affinity for adapting classical music themes and adding lyrics to these themes for Hollywood and the Broadway musical stage. Wright said that the music was usually a 50-50 "collaboration" between Wright and Forrest and the composer. While both men were credited equally as composer-lyricists, it was Forrest who worked with the music. Forrest and Wright won a Tony Award for their work on Kismet and, in 1995, they were awarded the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award.

He was cremated at Cofer-Kolski-Combs mortuary, Miami, and his ashes given to his executor.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 25, 1914 (Daytona Beach), Died July 21, 2005 (Miami)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, adapter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-28 of 28 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0EA5385 10-in. October 1937 Firefly selection Gerry Fitzgerald ; Gaumont-British Symphony ; Louis Levy Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Gramophone 0EA5855 10-in. 1937 The donkey serenade Ben Frankel Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Gramophone 0EA7643 10-in. 5/2/1939 Sweethearts Webster Booth Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 26-28 of 28 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wright, Robert," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103695.

Wright, Robert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103695.

"Wright, Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103695

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