Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields was a trailblazing lyricist and one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century, known for her wit, charm, and knack for crafting timeless tunes. Born in 1905 into a showbiz family (her dad was vaudeville star Lew Fields), she broke barriers as one of the first successful women in Tin Pan Alley and Broadway. Over her five-decade career, she collaborated with legends like Jerome Kern (“The Way You Look Tonight”), Cy Coleman (“Big Spender”), and Jimmy McHugh (“I’m in the Mood for Love”), blending jazz, humor, and emotional depth into classics that still sparkle today.

A true pioneer, Fields made history as the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song and later dominated theater with hits like *Sweet Charity* (home to “Rhythm of Life”) and *Redhead*. Her lyrics—smart, playful, and often ahead of their time—earned her spots in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the ASCAP Wall of Fame. Whether writing for Fred Astaire or shaping Broadway’s Golden Age, Dorothy Fields proved that great storytelling never goes out of style.

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