Musical satirist and mathematician Tom Lehrer dies at 97

Tom Lehrer, the sharp-witted musical satirist whose clever, often caustic songs made him a cult figure in the 1950s and '60s, has died at 97.
Lehrer passed away Saturday at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to his friend David Herder, who confirmed the news to The New York Times.

A math prodigy who began studying at Harvard at the age of 15, Lehrer spent most of his life balancing academia with an unexpected side career in musical satire. Born in Manhattan on April 9, 1928, he developed a love for piano early in life but never saw music as a primary profession. After earning his Bachelor's degree in 1946 and his Master's degree a year later, he continued his doctoral studies at Harvard and Columbia, although he never completed his PhD.

While immersed in mathematics, Lehrer began writing and recording satirical songs in his spare time. His self-released 1953 debut, "Songs of Tom Lehrer", became a surprise success, propelling him into nightclub circuits and national concert tours. After serving two years in the Army, he returned to music with his second studio album "More of Tom Lehrer" and a live recording titled "An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer", both in 1959.

Lehrer's irreverent lyrics and deadpan delivery skewered everything from nuclear war and racism to education and love. His most beloved songs include "The Elements", "The Masochism Tango", "The Wild West Is Where I Want to Be", "I Hold Your Hand in Mine", and "The Old Dope Peddler",
In the mid-1960s, his satirical work reached television audiences through the British comedy series "That Was the Week That Was", hosted by David Frost. Lehrer responded with his final album, "That Was the Year That Was" (1965), a collection of songs written for the show. It became his most commercially successful release, peaking at No. 18 on the US album charts.
Despite the acclaim, Lehrer stepped away from public performance in 1967 after a concert in Copenhagen. He later contributed songs to the PBS children's show "The Electric Company" in 1971 but never returned to the stage or studio.

Instead, he returned to academia, teaching math and musical theatre at institutions including Harvard, MIT, and the University of California. He also worked for a time at the Atomic Energy Commission.
A lifelong bachelor with no known immediate family, Lehrer spent his final years quietly in Cambridge. In recent decades, he made headlines once again for placing most of his songs into the public domain, allowing anyone to use or share them freely.

Tom Lehrer leaves behind a body of work that remains singular: biting, brainy, and oddly timeless.