Jerry Herman, the composer-lyricist who wrote Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles, and a handful of tuneful musicals and rousing show tunes, died Dec. 26 in Miami. He was 88.

“All these years that I’ve been writing Broadway musicals” he once revealed, “whenever I’ve had to write a real hit-‘em-in-the-gut show tune, I always pictured it in the voice of Judy Garland. Invariably, my work came out more theatrical and exciting because of that little trick.”

Jerry Herman was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning four times: Best Musical and Best Original Score for Hello, Dolly!, Best Original Score for La Cage aux Folles, and a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater.