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Lionel Bart (born August 1, 1930, died April 3, 1999) was an English composer of songs and musicals, best known for Oliver!

Bart was born Lionel Begleiter in London to Galician Jews, and grew up in Stepney. He later changed his name to Bart derived from the name of the silk screen printing firm he and John Gorman^[1] created ("G & B Arts", for Gorman and Begleiter) after completing his National Service. As a young man he was quite an accomplished painter. His musical talent was recognized by teachers from a young age, but he was undisciplined, and attempts to teach him the violin were unsuccessful. He never learned to read or write musical notation; this did not stop him from becoming a highly significant personality in the development of British rock and pop music.

He first gained widespread recognition through his songwriting, which includes the hits Livin' Doll (written for Cliff Richard) and Rock with the Cavemen (for Tommy Steele). During this period, Mike Pratt as well as Steele were his songwriting partners. In 1957, he won three Ivor Novello awards, a further four in 1958, and two in 1960.

His first musical was the 1959 Lock Up Your Daughters, based on an 18th century play by Henry Fielding. Following that, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, was notable for encouraging the use of authentic Cockney accents on the London stage. Oliver! (1960), based on Dickens' Oliver Twist was a huge hit from the very beginning, and has sustained its popularity to the present day. In 1968 it was made into a film which won several Oscars, including best film. It is estimated that around this time Bart was earning 16 Pounds a minute from Oliver!.

Bart's next two musicals, Blitz! (1962) and Maggie May (1964), had respectable West End runs (Blitz!, at the time London's most expensive musical ever, had a run of 568 performances [1]); but Twang! (1965) was a notorious flop and La Strada (1969), which opened on Broadway in New York City, closed after only one performance. Bart used his personal finances to try to rescue them, selling his rights to others of his works, including Oliver!, in order to generate capital. Unsuccessful, he turned to drink, and a twenty-year period of depression ensued, from which he ultimately recovered. Bart did not return to songwriting. Bart died after a long hard struggle with cancer.

A musical play based on Bart's life and using his songs, It's a Fine Life was staged at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch in 2006. [2]

• Oliver! (1963) - musical - composer, lyricist, and bookwriter - Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist, Tony Nominations for Best Musical and Best Author of a Musical
  • A return engagement of the original production played in 1965, and a revival in 1984.
• La Strada (1969) - musical - composer and lyricist

1. ^ Lionel Bart, The Knitting Circle. Accessed 24 November 2006. (Another version^{[citation needed]} says that he thought of it whilst passing by St Bartholomew´s hospital on a London bus.)

• Oliver writer Lionel Bart on EastLondonHistory.com
• Samantha Ellis, Lionel Bart's Oliver!, June 1960 The Guardian, June 18, 2003.
• Michael Coveney, Lionel Bart: Appetite for destruction, The Independent, 31 August 2006.
• Lionel Begleiter (Bart), Icons Gallery, circa-club.com.
• lionel bart, a composer of songs and musicals, The Queens Theatre (Hornchurch).
• Gerald Mahlowe, Songwriter Profile Lionel Bart, Songwriter magazine, International Songwriters Association (undated interview some time after 1985)

• Lionel Bart at the Internet Broadway Database
• Biographical info on Mike Pratt, songwriting partner, along with Tommy Steele