Frederick Loewe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frederick Loewe
Loewe c. 1962
Background information
Birth name	Freidrich (Fritz) Lowe
Born	June 10, 1901 Berlin, Germany
Origin	New York, United States
Died	February 1, 1988 (aged 86) Palm Springs, California
Genres	Broadway theatre musicals
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, lyricist
Associated acts	Alan Jay Lerner

Frederick Loewe (born Friedrich Löwe; June 10, 1901 – February 14, 1988) was a famous composer. He was born in Germany but became an American citizen. Loewe is best known for creating many popular Broadway musicals.

He worked closely with a writer named Alan Jay Lerner. Together, they made hit shows like Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, and Camelot. Many of these musicals were also turned into movies. They also created the movie musical Gigi.

Early Life and Musical Talent

Frederick Loewe was born in Berlin, Germany. His parents, Edmund and Rosa Loewe, were from Vienna. His father was a well-known operetta singer. He performed all over Europe and in North and South America.

Frederick grew up in Berlin. He started playing the piano by ear at a very young age. He even helped his father practice for shows. By age seven, he was already writing his own songs.

Becoming a Young Musician

Loewe went to a music school in Berlin. He studied with famous teachers like Ferruccio Busoni. He was a very talented piano player. At just 13 years old, he played with the famous Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. This was a huge achievement for someone so young.

Moving to America and Broadway Dreams

In 1924, Loewe moved to New York City with his father. His dream was to write music for Broadway. However, it was hard to get started. He took many different jobs to make a living. These jobs included working on a cattle ranch and even prize fighting.

He eventually found work playing piano. He played in German clubs and for silent movies. In 1931, he married Ernestine Zerline. They later divorced in 1957.

Meeting Alan Jay Lerner

Loewe spent time at The Lambs Club. This was a popular place for theater people to meet. He said this club helped him find work. In 1942, he met Alan Jay Lerner there. This meeting changed his career forever.

Their first show together was Life of the Party. It was a musical comedy. It played for nine weeks in Detroit. This success encouraged them to keep working together.

Broadway Hits with Lerner

Loewe and Lerner then created What's Up? in 1943. It opened on Broadway. After that, they made The Day Before Spring.

Brigadoon and Paint Your Wagon

Their first big hit was Brigadoon. This musical was a romantic story set in a magical Scottish village. It opened in 1947 and was a huge success. It won an award for Best Musical.

In 1951, they released Paint Your Wagon. This musical was about the California Gold Rush. It was not as successful as Brigadoon.

My Fair Lady and Gigi

In 1956, Loewe and Lerner created My Fair Lady. This musical was based on the play Pygmalion. It starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. My Fair Lady was a massive hit in both New York and London. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

After this, they were asked to write a movie musical. This became Gigi (1958). The movie won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Camelot

Their next Broadway musical was Camelot in 1960. It starred Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet. The show was very popular even before it opened. It ran for a long time on Broadway.

Later Years and Legacy

After Camelot, Loewe decided to retire. He moved to Palm Springs, California. He did not write music for many years.

However, in 1973, Lerner asked him to add new songs to the Gigi film score. This was for a new stage version of Gigi. Loewe agreed and won another Tony Award for his music.

In 1974, they worked on a musical film of The Little Prince. This movie was based on the classic children's book.

Frederick Loewe was recognized for his amazing work. He was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. In 1979, he was also inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Loewe lived in Palm Springs until he passed away at age 86. He is buried in the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California. A special star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars is dedicated to him.

See also

In Spanish: Frederick Loewe para niños