Tom Lehrer Dies; Satirist's Work in Public Domain

Tom Lehrer, the influential satirical songwriter and mathematician, died at age 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, Lehrer was known for sharp, irreverent songs such as 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,' 'The Elements,' and 'The Vatican Rag,' targeting topics like the nuclear arms race, politics, and religion. He retired from public performance in the early 1970s, famously quipping that 'political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.' Lehrer's impact reached generations of comedians and satirists, influencing figures such as Stephen Sondheim, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver. In 2020, he placed his entire body of work into the public domain, granting free access to his songs and lyrics. Lehrer's legacy endures for his pioneering blend of intellectual rigor, musical comedy, and incisive social commentary.