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Charles Strouse, Broadway Composer of ‘Annie’ & ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ Dies at 96

Composer Charles Strouse, who died on May 15 at age 96, won Tonys for 'Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Applause' and 'Annie.' He also won a Grammy and an Emmy.

The duo began by writing tunes for numerous revues, as well as special material for performers such as Kaye Ballard, Carol Burnett, Jane Morgan and Dick Shawn. However, one song from the score, “Once Upon a Time,” became an oft-performed standard of the 1960s, with recordings by such top singers as Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Perry Como, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. Series stars Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton performed the theme song “Those Were the Days,” which perfectly captured the tone of the show, from its opening lines: “Boy, the way Glenn Miller played/ Songs that made ‘The Hit Parade’/ Guys like us we had it made/ Those were the days.” The title sequence, of Archie and Edith performing the tune at their piano, is said to have been inspired by Strouse’s childhood memories of playing music with his parents at home.

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