Fred Ebb facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fred Ebb
Background information
Born	(1928-04-08)April 8, 1928 New York City, U.S.
Died	September 11, 2004(2004-09-11) (aged 76) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Musical theatre, film, television
Occupation(s)	Lyricist
Years active	1956–2004
Associated acts	Kander and Ebb

Fred Ebb (born April 8, 1928 – died September 11, 2004) was a talented American lyricist for musicals. He worked closely with composer John Kander. Together, they formed the famous team known as Kander and Ebb. They often wrote songs for stars like Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera.

Fred Ebb's Early Life and Career

Fred Ebb had many different jobs in the early 1950s. He bronzed baby shoes, worked as a truck driver's helper, and was employed in a department store. He also worked at a hosiery company.

He studied English Literature at New York University. Later, he earned his master's degree in English from Columbia University.

Ebb started writing songs with other artists. One of his early partners was Philip Springer. They wrote a song called "I Never Loved Him Anyhow," which was recorded by Carmen McRae in 1956. Another song they wrote, "Heartbroken" (1953), was sung by Judy Garland. Judy Garland was the mother of Liza Minnelli, who would later become a big star in Ebb's musicals.

His first job writing for the theater was for a musical show called Baker's Dozen in 1951. He also wrote songs for other shows, like Put It in Writing (1962) and From A to Z (1960).

In 1958, Fred Ebb even used his voice for a novelty song called "Little Blue Man" by Betty Johnson. He repeated the words: "I Rov You... to Bits."

The Kander and Ebb Partnership

Fred Ebb met composer John Kander in 1962. A music publisher named Tommy Valando introduced them. They started writing songs together, including "My Coloring Book."

Their first full musical was Flora the Red Menace (1965). It was directed by George Abbott. Even though the show closed after only 87 performances, its star, Liza Minnelli, won a Tony Award for her role.

Cabaret: A Big Success

Their next musical, Cabaret, was a huge hit! It ran for 1,165 performances. The show opened on Broadway in 1966. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score.

Cabaret was later made into a film by Bob Fosse. The movie also won eight Academy Awards. The musical has been brought back to Broadway three times, in 1987, 1998, and 2014.

Other Musicals and Projects

After Cabaret, Kander and Ebb created other musicals. Some of these included The Happy Time (1968) and Zorba (1968).

In 1972, Fred Ebb wrote a TV special for Liza Minnelli called Liza with a Z. He also wrote a TV special for Frank Sinatra in 1973. In 1975, the team wrote songs for the movie Funny Lady.

Chicago: A Long-Running Hit

Chicago (1975) was another important musical by Kander and Ebb. It starred Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, and Gwen Verdon. The show ran for over two years on Broadway.

Chicago was brought back to Broadway in 1996. This new production became incredibly popular. It holds the record as the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history. It's also the second longest-running show in Broadway history overall!

Later Works and Awards

In 1977, Kander and Ebb worked with Liza Minnelli and director Martin Scorsese on the film New York, New York. For this movie, they wrote their most famous song, the title track "New York, New York."

They also wrote the musical Woman of the Year (1981), starring Lauren Bacall. This show won them their second Tony Award for Best Score.

In 1993, their musical Kiss of the Spider Woman opened. It starred Chita Rivera and won Kander and Ebb their third Tony Award for Best Score.

Their last original musical to open on Broadway while Ebb was alive was Steel Pier in 1997.

Fred Ebb and John Kander were inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1991.

Fred Ebb's Passing and Legacy

Fred Ebb passed away from a heart attack on September 11, 2004. He was 76 years old.

At the time of his death, Ebb was working on a new musical with Kander called Curtains: A Backstage Murder Mystery Musical Comedy. John Kander continued working on the musical with a new writer, Rupert Holmes. Curtains opened on Broadway in 2007.

In 2007, Kander and the late Ebb received a special award from the Drama Desk. It honored their "42 years of excellence in advancing the art of the musical theater."

In 2010, a musical called The Scottsboro Boys premiered. It featured lyrics by Ebb and music by Kander.

Fred Ebb is buried in a mausoleum at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. The mausoleum also holds two other men, and the words "Together Forever" are carved on it.

The Fred Ebb Award

After Fred Ebb's death, the Fred Ebb Foundation was created in 2005. This foundation gives an annual award to new musical theater writers. The award helps up-and-coming writers and gives them $60,000 each year.