By AUDREY FISCHER
With a career that has spanned more than 50 years, composer Charles Strouse made his mark on stage, screen and the Billboard charts. His songs have been sung by musical greats from Frank Sinatra to Barbra Streisand, from Ray Charles to Jay-Z.
In 1958, his song “Born Too Late” by the Poni-Tails—the first successful girl group of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era—was a number one hit. Forty years later, Hip Hop artist Jay-Z won a Grammy award for Best Rap Album of the year (1998) for “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” which reflects Strouse’s influence.
The rap album includes a song of the same title based on Strouse’s “It’s The Hard-Knock Life” from the musical “Annie.” (Strouse’s original handwritten score for the song is pictured at right.)
The rap version has received nearly 3 million views on You Tube, introducing a whole new audience to the popular show tune.
Fans of comedian Mike Myers may recall that the rap version of the song was spoofed in the 2002 film “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” Performed by chief villain “Dr. Evil” (played by Myers) and his sidekick and alter ego Mini-Me (Verne Troyer), the song is a nod to Jay-Z (whose wife, Beyoncé Knowles, co-starred in the film) as well as Strouse, who composed the original.