Voting Station

Gerome Ragni

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Songwriter

The Resume

    (September 11, 1935-July 10, 1991)
    Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Actor and lyricist
    With James Rado, wrote the book and lyrics for the musical 'Hair' (1967)
    Played Berger in the original Broadway production of 'Hair' (1968)
    Appeared in the films 'Hamlet' (1964), 'Lions Love' (1969) and 'Woman Is Sweeter' (1973)
    Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2009)

Why he might be annoying:

    He knocked eight years off his age to claim he was in his 20s when he wrote 'Hair.'
    Ironically, he and Rado both had short hair when they began working on 'Hair.'
    He and Rado were temporarily locked out of the Broadway theater where 'Hair' was playing by the producers for 'unacceptable conduct,' including walking nude down the aisles and ad-libbing changes to the script without warning the cast and staff.
    He gave much of the money he earned from 'Hair' to the Black Panthers and Yippies.
    His post-'Hair' musicals were not successes.

Why he might not be annoying:

    'Hair' had a profound impact on what was acceptable on Broadway, musically and dramatically.
    He, Rado and composer Galt McDermot won the Grammy for Best Original Cast Album.
    Songs from 'Hair' became hits for the 5th Dimension ('Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,' #1), the Cowsills ('Hair,' #2), Oliver ('Good Morning Starshine,' #3) and Three Dog Night ('Easy To Be Hard,' #4).
    He died of cancer while working on a 'Hair' sequel with his brother Ted and Rado.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 32 Votes: 53.12% Annoying