Sheldon Harnick (1924-2023) was an American song lyricist, probably best known for writing the lyrics for every song in Fiddler on the Roof. He received two Tony awards for the show, as well as winning one for Fiorello! Harnick provided lyrics for musical stage adaptations of such works as The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, A Christmas Carol, Cyrano de Bergerac, and The Phantom Tollbooth. He was previously married to Elaine May.
In 1990, Harnick was interviewed in the special Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music. He had previously collaborated with Joe Raposo in 1986 on the musical A Wonderful Life (based on It's a Wonderful Life). In the interview, he recalled Raposo's notion that "a tenor is a person who, where he should have brains, he has resonance" and later expressed disappointment that Raposo didn't live long enough for the two of them to continue composing together.