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Glenn Slater

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Glenn Slater is an American lyricist for musicals, born on 28 January 1968 in Brooklyn and raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. He became interested in theatre at high school, after failing as a songwriter in a band. In 1990 he graduated from Harvard. He wrote lyrics for the revue Newyorkers in 2001 and for six editions of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus.

Music and breakthrough

His first work with the composer Alan Menken was the film Home on the Range in 2004 and the musical Sister Act. For the stage version of The Little Mermaid (2008) he wrote the new lyrics; the film's original lyricist, Howard Ashman, had died in 1991. With Andrew Lloyd Webber he made Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, which premiered in the West End in 2010. He also wrote the songs for Disney's Tangled and for Galavant. In 2015 he worked with Lloyd Webber again on School of Rock.

Influence

He was nominated three times for a Tony Award, for The Little Mermaid, Sister Act and School of Rock. For I See the Light from Tangled he received a Grammy and an Oscar nomination in 2012. Slater makes sure that the songs in a musical move the story forward, including those of School of Rock.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to I See the Light from Tangled and notice how the lyrics turn a small encounter into a big feeling. Hear how the singers complement each other in the chorus.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists