Hart, Bruce 1938–2006

OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born January 15, 1938, in New York, NY; died of lung cancer, February 21, 2006, in New York, NY. Composer and author. A writer and composer for television series, specials, and movies, Hart was well known for his contributions to children's shows, especially his collaborative effort on the theme song for Sesame Street. A 1959 graduate of Syracuse University, he completed a law degree at Yale in 1962. Next, Hart served three years as an assistant to the judge advocate in the U.S. Naval Reserve, attaining the rank of lieutenant. He left the military and, rather than join a law firm, began a career in television, first working as a writer for the humorous series Candid Camera. In 1969, he was hired, along with his wife, Carole, to write for Sesame Street, and composed the theme song "Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?" with Jon Stone and Joe Raposo. Winning an Emmy Award for writing the pilot of the children's show, Hart nevertheless left after one year to work on other projects. Continuing his collaboration with his wife, Hart produced an award-winning educational film series for Psychology Today in 1970. He next gained acclaim as a writer, producer, codeveloper, and lyricist for the television special Free to Be … You and Me, which aired in 1974, as well as for a 1979 musical for teenage viewers called Sooner or Later. That year he also produced Hot Hero Sandwich, a children's show that was well received critically and earned two Emmy Awards, but did not last long on television. Later projects included the young adult book Waiting Games (1981), which he also wrote with his wife, and a television movie for adults called Leap of Faith (1988). Among Hart's other notable songs are "Bang the Drum Slowly," "One Way Ticket," "Who Are You Now?," and "You Take My Breath Away."

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2006, p. B9.

New York Times, February 23, 2006, p. A23.