Herbert Kretzmer facts for kids

Herbert Kretzmer (born October 5, 1925 – died October 14, 2020) was a talented journalist and a famous lyricist. A lyricist is someone who writes the words for songs. He was born in South Africa but lived most of his life in England. Kretzmer is most famous for writing the English words for the popular musical Les Misérables. He also wrote many English songs for the French singer Charles Aznavour.

Early Life and Education

Herbert Kretzmer was born in Kroonstad, South Africa, in 1925. He was one of four brothers. His parents, William and Tilly Kretzmer, had moved to South Africa from the Russian Empire. They had left their home to escape difficult times.

Herbert's parents owned a furniture store. His older brother, Elliot, became a pilot in the South African Air Force during World War II. Elliot later became the Mayor of Johannesburg in 1991. Herbert finished high school at Kroonstad High School. After that, he went to Rhodes University.

Herbert Kretzmer's Journalism Career

Herbert Kretzmer started his career writing for documentary films. He also wrote commentary for weekly cinema newsreels. Soon, he began working in print journalism. His first job was as a reporter for the Johannesburg Sunday Express.

In 1954, Kretzmer moved to London, England. There, he worked as both a journalist and a lyric writer. He wrote for the Daily Sketch for several years. In 1959, he became a profile writer for the Sunday Dispatch and the Daily Express.

Famous Interviews

As a journalist, Kretzmer interviewed many well-known people. These included writers like John Steinbeck and Truman Capote. He also spoke with famous actors such as Cary Grant. Musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were also among those he interviewed.

From 1962, he worked as the main drama critic for the Daily Express. He held this job for 16 years. During that time, he reviewed about 2,500 new plays and shows. Later, from 1979 to 1987, he wrote about television for the Daily Mail. He won two national press awards, including TV Critic Of The Year in 1980.

Herbert Kretzmer's Work as a Lyricist

Herbert Kretzmer was a very successful lyricist. He wrote words for songs in many different projects.

Early Songwriting Success

In the 1960s, Kretzmer wrote lyrics for the BBC television show That Was the Week That Was. One of his songs, "In the Summer of His Years", was a tribute to John F. Kennedy. It was performed just hours after Kennedy's passing.

Kretzmer won an Ivor Novello Award for the song "Goodness Gracious Me". He wrote this comedy hit with David Lee. It was sung by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren. He also translated French songs into English. Two famous examples are "Yesterday When I Was Young" and "She". Both were big hits for the French singer Charles Aznavour.

Musicals and Stage Works

Kretzmer wrote lyrics for the musical film Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness. He also wrote the words for the West End musical Our Man Crichton. This show was based on a play by J. M. Barrie.

He also wrote lyrics for The Four Musketeers. This musical ran for over a year in London. It starred Harry Secombe as d'Artagnan.

Les Misérables: A Major Achievement

In 1984, producer Cameron Mackintosh noticed Kretzmer's talent. He asked Kretzmer to write the English lyrics for a French musical called Les Misérables. The original French show was two hours long. Kretzmer's English version made it a three-hour show.

The English Les Misérables opened in London on October 8, 1985. It is still running in the West End today. It is one of the longest-running musicals ever. The show includes famous songs like "I Dreamed a Dream", "Bring Him Home", and "On My Own". For his work on Les Misérables, Kretzmer won Tony and Grammy awards.

Later Projects

In 2008, Kretzmer wrote the lyrics for Marguerite. This musical was set in Paris during World War II. It was based on a story by Alain Boublil.

His last musical project was Kristina. This show was based on novels about Swedish people moving to America in the 1800s. It was first performed as a concert in New York in 2009.

Awards and Recognition

Herbert Kretzmer received many honours for his work. In 1988, he was made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is a special award from France for contributions to the arts.

He also received the Jimmy Kennedy Award for his songwriting. In 1996, he was given an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Rhodes University in South Africa also gave him an Honorary Doctorate in 2011.

Kretzmer was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2011. This award recognized his services to music. He was also nominated for Best Original Song at the 85th Academy Awards and the 70th Golden Globe Awards. This was for the song "Suddenly" from the 2012 film version of Les Miserables.

Personal Life

Herbert Kretzmer married Elisabeth Margaret Wilson in 1961. They had a son named Matthew and a daughter named Danielle. They later divorced in 1973. His second marriage was to Sybil Sever in 1988.

Herbert Kretzmer had Parkinson's disease. He passed away on October 14, 2020, at his home in London. He was 95 years old.