Kander and Ebb facts for kids

Kander and Ebb was a very successful American team who wrote songs together. John Kander (born March 18, 1927) was the composer, meaning he wrote the music. Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004) was the lyricist, who wrote the words for the songs.

They are most famous for their musicals for the stage. These include Cabaret and Chicago. Kander and Ebb also wrote music for several movies. One famous movie they worked on was Martin Scorsese's New York, New York.

Their most well-known song is the theme song from that movie. Many artists recorded "New York, New York." It became a signature song for Frank Sinatra. The team also worked closely with two famous actresses. These were Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera. Kander and Ebb wrote many songs and shows for them. These included stage shows, concerts, and television specials.

The Story of Kander and Ebb

How They Met and Started

John Kander and Fred Ebb first met in 1962. Their music publisher, Tommy Valando, introduced them. Kander and Ebb met at Ebb's apartment. They decided to see if they could write well together. They tried writing a song for a Broadway musical. This musical was called Take Her, She's Mine.

A big moment for them was when Kander suggested they try writing a slow, emotional song. This song was called "My Coloring Book." It became a hit right away. Sandy Stewart sang the song. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1962. Later, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield also sang "My Coloring Book."

This song helped define Kander and Ebb's special style. Their music often sounded complex but was easy for audiences to enjoy.

Early Musicals and Big Hits

Kander and Ebb worked on a musical called Golden Gate. It was not produced, but it helped them test their teamwork. Their first musical to be shown on Broadway was Flora the Red Menace in 1965. This was also Liza Minnelli's first time performing on Broadway.

They also wrote a special musical for General Electric. It was called General Electric presents Go Fly a Kite. This was for a company conference in 1966.

Their most famous musical is Cabaret (1966). The movie version came out in 1972. The musical was directed by Harold Prince, who often worked with them. It was a huge success on Broadway. It ran for over 1,100 performances. Cabaret won a Tony Award for best musical. Its original cast recording also won a Grammy Award. The movie version, directed by Bob Fosse, won eight Academy Awards.

Another huge hit was the musical Chicago (1975). It had a great first run of 936 performances. It was brought back to Broadway in 1996. This revival became even more popular. It is now the longest-running revival in Broadway history. The 2002 film version was also very successful. It even received an Oscar nomination.

Other successful Broadway shows included Woman Of The Year (1981) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992). After Fred Ebb passed away, their final musical, Curtains, opened in 2006.

Working with Stars

Liza Minnelli became very well-known for performing Kander and Ebb's songs. Fred Ebb even produced her Emmy-winning TV special, Liza with a Z. They enjoyed working with her because she was a great musician. Kander said that writing for Liza was easy because she could do anything. He felt the same way about Chita Rivera, another actress they worked with a lot.

Kander and Ebb loved working with actors to create characters. For Cabaret, they spent a long time experimenting. Actors like Joel Grey helped add ideas to their characters. The creative team often met at Harold Prince's home. They would have "what if" sessions to discuss new ideas.

Later Works and Honors

In 1998, Kander and Ebb were honored for their work. They received Kennedy Center Honors. This award celebrates artists who have greatly contributed to American culture.

In 1994, they received honorary doctorate degrees. These were from Niagara University in Lewiston, New York.

Their musical The Scottsboro Boys played on Broadway in 2010. The story was written by David Thompson. Susan Stroman directed and choreographed the show.

Susan Stroman and David Thompson worked together again. They directed and wrote the story for Kander & Ebb's musical New York, New York. This show uses songs from the movie but tells a new story. It opened on April 26, 2023, and closed on July 30, 2023.

Musicals

• Flora, The Red Menace (1965)
• Cabaret (1966)
• Go Fly a Kite (1966), an industrial musical for General Electric
• The Happy Time (1968)
• Zorba (1968)
• 70, Girls, 70 (1971)
• Chicago (1975)
• 2 by 5 (1976)
• The Act (1978)
• Woman of the Year (1981)
• The Rink (1984)
• And The World Goes 'Round (1991)
• Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992)
• Steel Pier (1997)
• Fosse (1999)
• Over and Over aka All About Us (a.k.a. The Skin of Our Teeth) (1999)
• Liza's Back (recording, wrote the title song: "Liza's Back") (2002)
• Curtains (2006)
• The Scottsboro Boys (2010)
• The Visit (2015)
• New York, New York (with additional lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda) (2023)

Films

• Cabaret (1972)
• Funny Lady (1975)
• New York, New York (1977) (Four original songs, including the famous title song)
• Chicago (2002)

Television

• Mama Malone (1984) (Theme Song)
• The Thorns (1988) (Theme Song)