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Tony Award-winning composer Jerry Herman, who wrote the cheerful, good-natured music and lyrics for such classic shows as "Mame," "Hello, Dolly!" and "La Cage aux Folles," died Thursday. He was 88.
His goddaughter Jane Dorian confirmed his death to The Associated Press early Friday. He died of pulmonary complications in Miami, where he had been living with his partner, real estate broker Terry Marler.
The creator of 10 Broadway shows and contributor to several more, Herman won two Tony Awards for best musical: "Hello, Dolly!" in 1964 and "La Cage aux Folles" in 1983. He also won two Grammys -- for the "Mame" cast album and "Hello, Dolly!" as song of the year -- and was a Kennedy Center honoree.
Tributes poured in Friday from Broadway royalty, including from Harvey Fierstein, who wrote the book of "La Cage aux Folles" alongside Herman's songs. Writer and host Seth Rudetsky honored Herman for writing "quintessential Broadway songs. Beautiful melodies and fantastic lyrics."
Herman wrote in the Rodgers and Hammerstein tradition, an optimistic composer at a time when others in his profession were exploring darker feelings and material.
Herman was born in New York in 1931 and raised in Jersey City. His parents ran a children's summer camp in the Catskills and he taught himself the piano.
He is survived by his partner, Marler, and his goddaughters -- Dorian and Dorian's own daughter, Sarah Haspel.