Hart, (Milton) Lorenz (1895–1943)

US lyricist. He studied journalism and wrote poetry at Columbia University and translated plays for the Shuberts before meeting the composer Richard Rodgers in 1918. They collaborated on four songs for Poor Little Ritz Girl (1920) and did their first complete score together for The Garrick Gaities (1925). During the next 18 years they collaborated on a string of successful Broadway and Hollywood musicals, including On Your Toes (1936), The Boys from Syracuse (1938), and Pal Joey (1940).

Hart was born in New York City. With Rodgers he created many popular songs, including ‘With a Song in My Heart’ (1929), ‘Blue Moon’ (1934), and ‘My Funny Valentine’ (1937). Hart's show lyrics were distinguished by their clever wordplay, intricate internal rhymes, and often sardonic attitude. Dissatisfied with his life, he went on a drinking binge and died of pneumonia.