Tom Lehrer, a renowned satirist known for his sharp social commentary through music, has died at the age of 97. He gained fame for songs that addressed marriage, politics, and societal issues, notably "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" and "The Vatican Rag." Lehrer pursued a career in mathematics, teaching at Harvard and UC Santa Cruz. In a notable gesture in 2020, he granted public use of his song lyrics without fees. His work influenced many contemporary artists and he was known for his comedic style alongside musical legends such as Gilbert and Sullivan.
"Lehrer was often likened to contemporaries such as Allen Sherman and Stan Freberg for his comic riffs on culture and politics and was cited by Randy Newman as an influence."
"He mocked the forms of music he didn't like, laughed at the threat of nuclear annihilation, and denounced discrimination in his satirical songs."
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