Robert Wright (musical writer)
Robert Craig Wright 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 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.
Film work
New Shoes, After the Thin Man, The Longest Night, Libeled Lady, Sinner Take AllBad Man of Brimstone, The Firefly, The Good Old Soak, London by Night, Madame X, Mama Steps Out, Mannequin, Man of the People, Maytime, Navy Blue and Gold, Parnell, Saratoga, You're Only Young OnceBoys Town, The First Hundred Years, The Girl Downstairs, Happily Buried, Lord Jeff, The Magician's Daughter, Marie Antoinette, Nuts and Bolts, Our Gang Follies of 1938, Paradise for Three, Snow Gets in Your Eyes, Sweethearts, Three Comrades, The Toy Wife, Vacation from LoveBalalaika, Broadway Serenade, Florian, The Hardys Ride High, Honolulu, Let Freedom Ring, Music in My Heart, Strange Cargo, ''These Glamour Girls, The WomenBlondie Goes Latin, Dance, Girl, Dance, Kit Carson, The New Moon, South of Pago-PagoCubana, Fiesta, Playing with Music, I Married an AngelRio RitaKismet, Make Believe Ballroom, Rainbow 'Round My ShoulderSong of Norway The Great WaltzHit songs of their day include "The Donkey Serenade" from The Firefly, "Always and Always" from Mannequin and "It's a Blue World" from Music in My Heart''.
Shows
Song of Norway ; adapting the music of Edvard GriegGypsy Lady ; using the music of Victor HerbertMagdalena ; using the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos; working directly with the composerThe Great Waltz ; adapting the music of Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss IIKismet ; adapting the music of Alexander BorodinAt the Grand ; original music and lyricsThe Love Doctor ; original music and lyricsKean ; original music and lyricsAnya ; adapting the music of Sergei RachmaninoffTimbuktu! ; a reworking of Kismet for an African-American cast, adding a few new songsGrand Hotel ; a reworking of At the Grand with additional music and lyrics by Maury YestonHit songs of the day include "Strange Music" from Song of Norway; and "Stranger in Paradise", "Baubles, Bangles, & Beads" and "And This Is My Beloved" from Kismet.