Oscar Hammerstein

Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) was an American lyricist and librettist who helped shape 20th-century musical theatre. Born in New York City, he began writing for Broadway in the 1910s and gained early acclaim with composer Jerome Kern, notably on *Show Boat* (1927). Hammerstein later formed a landmark partnership with composer Richard Rodgers, creating a series of influential musicals including *Oklahoma!* (1943), *Carousel* (1945), *South Pacific* (1949), *The King and I* (1951), and *The Sound of Music* (1959). Known for integrating song, character, and story, he won multiple Academy Awards and Tony Awards. He died in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.