Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields was a renowned American lyricist and librettist who collaborated with prominent composers such as Jerome Kern, Sigmund Romberg, and Cy Coleman. Her work spanned multiple genres, including Broadway theatre, film, and television, with notable contributions to shows like Annie Get Your Gun and Sweet Charity. Fields' career was marked by her innovative and provocative style, which often incorporated elements of jazz and blues into her lyrics. She worked with famous directors like Morton DaCosta and Bob Fosse on various productions.

● Early Life and Education

Dorothy Fields was born in New York City to Lew Fields, a vaudevillian performer and producer, and Rose Harris. Her brother, Herbert Fields, was also a librettist and lyricist who collaborated with her on several projects. Fields' early life was influenced by her family's involvement in the entertainment industry, with frequent visits to theatres like the Ziegfeld Follies and Palace Theatre. She attended Radcliffe College and later New York University, where she developed her skills as a writer and lyricist under the guidance of instructors like John Erskine.

● Career

Fields' career began in the 1920s, with her first major success coming from the song "I'm in the Mood for Love", written with Jimmy McHugh for the film Every Night at Eight. She went on to collaborate with composers like Jerome Kern on shows like The Joy of Living and Up in Central Park, which featured stars like Deanna Durbin and Dick Powell. Fields also worked with Sigmund Romberg on operettas like The Girl in Pink and My Romance, which were performed at theatres like the Metropolitan Opera House and New Amsterdam Theatre. Her work with Cy Coleman on Sweet Charity earned her critical acclaim and numerous award nominations, including Tony Awards and Academy Awards.

● Notable Works

Some of Fields' most notable works include the musical Annie Get Your Gun, written with Irving Berlin and Herbert Fields, which premiered at the Imperial Theatre and starred Ethel Merman. She also collaborated with Cy Coleman on the musical Seesaw, which opened at the Uris Theatre and featured stars like Michelle Lee and Ken Howard. Fields' work on the film Swing Time earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "The Way You Look Tonight", written with Jerome Kern. Her lyrics were also featured in films like Joy of Living and Every Night at Eight, which starred Deanna Durbin and Brian Donlevy.

● Awards and Legacy

Throughout her career, Fields received numerous awards and nominations for her work, including Tony Awards, Academy Awards, and Grammy Awards. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fields' legacy extends beyond her own work, as she paved the way for future female lyricists and librettists like Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Her songs have been covered by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra, and continue to be performed in theatres and concert halls around the world, including the Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall.

● Personal Life

Fields was married to Jack Weiner, and the couple had two children, David Fields and Elaine Fields. She was known for her strong personality and wit, which often influenced her lyrics and librettos. Fields was also a frequent guest at parties and gatherings hosted by friends like Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers, where she would often perform her latest songs. Despite her passing in 1974, Fields' legacy continues to be celebrated through her music and lyrics, which remain an integral part of American musical theatre and popular culture, with her work being performed at venues like the Gershwin Theatre and Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Category:American lyricists