Joe Darion, who wrote 'La Mancha' lyrics, dies

LEBANON, N.H. — Joe Darion, the lyricist for "Man of La Mancha," died Saturday at age 90.

"Man of La Mancha" opened in New York in 1965 and ran for 2,328 performances. It won Darion and his composing partner, Mitch Leigh, a Tony Award for best score.

Inspired by Cervantes' "Don Quixote," the musical went on to become the third-longest-running Broadway musical of the 1960s. Its music included the popular song "The Impossible Dream."

In the early 1950s, Darion had three top 10 hits: the Patti Page ballad "Changing Partners," the Teresa Brewer novelty song "Ricochet" and Red Buttons' comedy hit "The Ho Ho Song."