Robert Wright

Robert Wright was an American composer and lyricist, born on September 25, 1914, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Best known for his long-time collaboration with George Forrest, Wright created a series of popular musicals that brought lush romanticism and classical influences to the Broadway stage. Together, they crafted a distinctive niche by adapting classical melodies into theatrical scores.

Wright and Forrest’s most famous work is Kismet (1953), a Tony Award-winning musical that set the music of Russian composer Alexander Borodin to English lyrics and a dramatic, exotic storyline. Songs like “Stranger in Paradise” and “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” became enduring hits, and the show’s opulent sound and spectacle made it a landmark of 1950s musical theatre.

The duo’s formula of blending classical themes with accessible lyrics proved successful in other productions as well, including Song of Norway (1944), which was based on the music of Edvard Grieg, and The Great Waltz (1949), using themes by Johann Strauss. Their work celebrated European romanticism while packaging it for American audiences.

Wright and Forrest were known for their craftsmanship and theatrical flair, often working closely with producers and directors to shape their shows into visual and musical spectacles. Though their style fell out of favor in the rock-and-roll era, their musicals remain beloved for their rich orchestrations and lyrical beauty.

Robert Wright died on July 27, 2005, in Miami, Florida. His legacy lives on in the golden melodies and elegant lyrics that brought classical grandeur to Broadway and captivated audiences for generations.