Lionel Bart
Known for

Sound

Credits

15

Gender

Man

Birthday

Aug 1, 1930

Day of death

Apr 3, 1999 (68)

Place of birth

Stepney, London, England, UK

Also known as

Lionel Bart

Biography

Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) was a British writer and composer of pop music and musicals. He wrote Tommy Steele's "Rock with the Caveman", which became the first British pop song to break into the American Top 40, and was the sole creator of the musical Oliver! (1960). With Oliver! and his work alongside theatre director Joan Littlewood at Theatre Royal, Stratford East, he played an instrumental role in the 1960s birth of the British musical theatre scene after an era when American musicals had dominated the West End. Best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver!, he was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the father of the modern British musical". In 1963 he won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Oliver!, and the 1968 film version of the musical won a total of 6 Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Some of his other compositions include the theme song to the James Bond film From Russia with Love, and the songs "Living Doll" by Cliff Richard, "Far Away" by Shirley Bassey, "Do You Mind?" (recorded by both Anthony Newley and Andy Williams), "Big Time" (a 1961 cover by Jack Jones of his "Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be" show tune), "Easy Going Me" by Adam Faith, "Always You And Me" by Russ Conway, and several songs recorded by Tommy Steele ("A Handful of Songs", "Butterfingers" and "Little White Bull"). By the mid 1960s he was as well known for his outlandish lifestyle, his celebrity friends, his excesses, and his parties as he was for his work. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1968Vive TorbaySelf
One Pair Of Eyes - Who Are The Cockneys Now?Self
1998The Brian Epstein StorySelf
1978An Audience with...Self
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2004The BackyardigansSongs
1973Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeMusic
1968Oliver!Original Music Composer
1968Oliver!Music
1968Oliver!Lyricist
1968Oliver!Book
1964Man in the MiddleMain Title Theme Composer
1963From Russia with LoveSongs
1963Sparrows Can't SingMusic
1958The Duke Wore JeansStory