Though known primarily for his Tony-winning work on Broadway's Man of La Mancha, lyricist Joe Darion's considerable range covered more than just Broadway tunes; the versatile lyricist also penned three Top Ten hits in the 1950s and a slew of popular children's songs.
Winning a variety of awards for his contributions to La Mancha (later made into a film), Darion's other Broadway work included Illya, Darling (adapted from the 1960 film Never on Sunday), Shinbone Alley, and Better Than Wine. Darion also penned such memorable librettos as the jazz opera Archy and Mehitabel, in addition to making the English-language contributions to the bilingual musical The Megilla. Frequently collaborating with Ezra Laderman, the duo teamed for such oratorio operas as Galileo Galilei and a series of cantatas including A Mass for Cain and A Handful of Souls.
Joe Darion died on June 16, 2001, of natural causes in Lebanon, NH. He was 90.
| Title | Year | Editors' Rating | User Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Man of La Mancha
Songwriter |
1972 | |||
Shinbone Alley
Screenwriter, Songwriter |
1970 | |||
|
Ricochet Romance
Songwriter |
1954 |
