The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Musical Satirist Tom Lehrer Dead At 97

**Posted by RadioActive** July 27, 2025 3:39 pm

I'm not sure how many remember this eclectic performer, but he recorded some of the most bizarre songs of the 60s, many of them true classics. He was a University of California professor even as he was filling concert halls and making LPs, turning out satirical songs like "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park," "Alma" and "The Vatican Rag."

Dr. Demento called him the most brilliant song satirist ever, and to prove how extraordinary he was, he refused his own copyright, making his compositions available to anyone who wanted to use them for no fee in perpetuity.

Lehrer was a math prof. and returned to that profession after his concert days were over and because that was my worst subject, that may be why his tune "New Math" was always my personal favourite.

Tom Lehrer, song satirist and mathematician, dies at 97

**Posted by Buzzy Krumhunger** July 27, 2025 3:57 pm

Not a good week for the Celebrity Toe Tag Lottery for sure.
Enjoyed his work on the MacNeil-Lehrer Report.

Last edited by Buzzy Krumhunger (July 27, 2025 4:17 pm)

**Posted by Jody Thornton** July 27, 2025 4:46 pm

I was thinking of the Hunting Song last week, wondering whether Tom Lehrer was still with us. He would get play on the Sunday Funnies and Doctor Demento on CHUM-FM. Sad news.

**Posted by Saul** July 27, 2025 6:33 pm

My parents introd me to him by virtue of having an album in the house collection and playing it early and often. It was small size, red and white cover, drawing of Lehrer, guised as the devil, at the piano. Lobachevsky remains a favourite, but the whole album gets regular play here. Brilliant!

Last edited by Saul (July 27, 2025 6:33 pm)

**Posted by Shorty Wave** July 28, 2025 7:47 am

I have only heard a couple of his songs, my roommate back in the 80s found one of his albums at a garage sale so we listened to it for a while. We joked that Lehrer was the Weird Al of his times! Sad news, but 97 ain’t too bad.

**Posted by Carl Patrick** July 28, 2025 8:38 am

Brilliant satirist. His take on current events would have been entertaining.

**Posted by Easily Amused** July 28, 2025 8:50 am

Carl Patrick wrote:
Brilliant satirist. His take on current events would have been entertaining.

Agreed. Mark Russell was the Chevrolet Acadian of satire, Lehrer was a Cadillac.

**Posted by CuzinDave** July 28, 2025 1:37 pm

Saul wrote:
My parents introd me to him by virtue of having an album in the house collection and playing it early and often. It was small size, red and white cover, drawing of Lehrer, guised as the devil, at the piano. Lobachevsky remains a favourite, but the whole album gets regular play here. Brilliant!

I have a copy of that album. Heard him first when I was very young.

Last edited by CuzinDave (July 28, 2025 1:39 pm)

**Posted by Saul** July 28, 2025 3:04 pm

CuzinDave wrote:
Saul wrote:
My parents introd me to him by virtue of having an album in the house collection and playing it early and often. It was small size, red and white cover, drawing of Lehrer, guised as the devil, at the piano. Lobachevsky remains a favourite, but the whole album gets regular play here. Brilliant!
I have a copy of that album. Heard him first when I was very young.

Parents probably played him when I was in diapers. Probably took me a few years to appreciate the man's brilliance. And I probably never would have understood his math class. Although who knows - maybe he was the kind of teacher to reach a math duffus like me.

**Posted by Muffaraw Joe** July 28, 2025 6:07 pm

He also sang Hannuka in Santa Monica, which is played on certain radio stations during the holiday, us Jewish people don't have enough Hannuka music to last from November 1st-December 31st. But the Tom Lehrer song, Adam Sandler's classic and the Barenaked Ladies all had tunes to sing to on the radio

Here is Lehrer's classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_3FjHEbdhc&list=RDR_3FjHEbdhc&start_radio=1

P.S. Who knew Muffaraw lit the candles for "8 Crazy Nights"? Now you do!

Last edited by Muffaraw Joe (July 28, 2025 6:09 pm)

**Posted by mic'em** July 29, 2025 6:05 am

John Oakley gave a tribute to Mr Lehrer and played some of his songs on Oak's Monday show. Oakley stated Tom was his hero when he was starting out as as a comic.

**Posted by RadioActive** July 29, 2025 6:44 am

mic'em wrote:
John Oakley gave a tribute to Mr Lehrer and played some of his songs on Oak's Monday show. Oakley stated Tom was his hero when he was starting out as as a comic.

He also noted he scored a rare interview with the often the reclusive Lehrer and it helped him get an interview for a radio job in Montreal, where the guy doing the hiring was impressed that he landed the rare one on one.