Moose Charlap


Morris Isaac "Moose" Charlap was an American Broadway composer best known for Peter Pan, for which Carolyn Leigh wrote the lyrics. The idea for the show came from Jerome Robbins, who planned to have a few songs by Charlap and Leigh. It evolved into a full musical, with additional songs by Jule Styne and Betty Comden and Adolph Green. On Broadway, starred Mary Martin as Peter Pan and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook.

Career

Charlap was also the composer for the television movie musical Hans Brinker which had lyrics by Alvin Cooperman and starred Eleanor Parker Richard Basehart, John Gregson, Robin Askwith, Roberta Torey, Sheila Whitmill, and Cyril Ritchard. It was based on the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge. He also wrote the song "First Impression" with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. This song was dropped from the original 1954 production of "Peter Pan", but recorded by Eydie Gorme in 1956. Other songs he wrote which were not included in musicals include "English Muffins and Irish Stew," "Mademoiselle," "Great Day In The Morning," "My Favorite Song" and "Young Ideas." Ella Fitzgerald recorded his "My Favorite Song" for Decca Records, with an orchestra directed by Leroy Kirkland. He was also a recording artist and had a single 'Good Old Fashioned Lovin'/'It Was My Father's Habit' released on ABC 9674 in 1956.

Family

Born Morris Isaac Charlip to a Jewish family in Philadelphia, he married singer Sandy Stewart, whose biggest hit was "My Coloring Book" in 1962. Jazz pianist Bill Charlap is their son. They also had a daughter, Katherine. He and his first wife, Elizabeth, were the parents of a daughter, Anne and son Tom, a bass player.
Charlap, who lived with his wife and children on Manhattan's East Side, died at Lenox Hill Hospital in 1974 at the age of 45.

Work on Broadway