Tom Lehrer
Tom Lehrer | |
|---|---|
 Tom Lehrer, performing on the piano, in 1960 | |
| Born | April 9, 1928 |
| Died | July 25, 2025 (aged 97) |
| Occupation | mathematician |
| Known for | several albums of satirical songs |
Tom Lehrer was an American mathematician best known for two albums of satirical songs he released.[1]
Lehrer started at Harvard University when he was 15 years old, graduated when he was 18, and earned his Masters degree when he was 19.[1][2] Lehrer did not finish his PhD.
Lehrer toured and performed, and released several albums, in the late 1950s and early 60s, but his obituary said these were a sabattical from his job as a mathematician.[1]
In 2020 Lehrer announced his decision to release all his lyrics, so anyone could re-use them, for any purpose.[1]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Richard Severo; Peter Keepnews (2025-07-27). "Tom Lehrer, Musical Satirist With a Dark Streak, Dies at 97". The New York Times. p. A17. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-07-27. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
His music was ultimately just a momentary detour in an academic career that included teaching posts at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, and even a stint with the Atomic Energy Commission.
- ↑
"Top 15 Tom Lehrer songs" (video). 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via YouTube.
Tom Lehrer was one of the finest comedy song writers of the Twentieth Century - a terrific satirist and mathematical genius too.