Kander and Ebb facts for kids

Kander and Ebb was a very successful American songwriting team. It included John Kander (born 1927), who wrote the music, and Fred Ebb (1928–2004), who wrote the words.

They were best known for their amazing stage musicals. These include famous shows like Cabaret and Chicago. Kander and Ebb also wrote music for several movies. One of these was Martin Scorsese's New York, New York. Their most famous song is the theme song from that movie, also called "New York, New York." Many artists recorded it, and it became a signature song for Frank Sinatra. The team also worked closely with two famous actresses, Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera. They wrote many songs and shows for them for stage, concerts, and TV.

History of Kander and Ebb

John Kander and Fred Ebb first met in 1962. Their music publisher, Tommy Valando, introduced them. They met at Fred Ebb's apartment and decided to try writing a song together. They wrote a "mock title song" for a Broadway musical.

A big moment for them was when Kander suggested they try writing a slow, emotional song. This song, "My Coloring Book," became a hit right away. Sandy Stewart sang it, and it was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1962. Later, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield also sang the song. This song helped create Kander and Ebb's special musical style. They wrote complex music with words and tunes that audiences could easily understand.

Kander and Ebb wrote their first musical for Broadway in 1965. It was called Flora the Red Menace. This show was special because it was Liza Minnelli's first time performing on Broadway. They also wrote a musical for General Electric in 1966. It was called General Electric presents Go Fly a Kite.

Their most famous work came from the musical Cabaret (1966). The musical was a huge success on Broadway. It ran for over 1,100 shows. It won a Tony Award for best musical. The original cast recording also won a Grammy Award. The 1972 film version of Cabaret, directed by Bob Fosse, won eight Academy Awards.

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

Other successful Broadway shows by Kander and Ebb include Woman Of The Year (1981) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992). Their last musical, Curtains (2006), was performed after Fred Ebb passed away.

Liza Minnelli became very well known for singing Kander and Ebb's songs. Fred Ebb even produced her Emmy-winning TV special, Liza with a Z. Kander said that writing for Liza was easy because she could sing anything. He said it was the same with Chita Rivera.

Kander and Ebb were honored in 1998 with the Kennedy Center Honors. This award recognizes artists for their contributions to American culture. In 1994, they also received honorary degrees from Niagara University.

Their musical The Scottsboro Boys played on Broadway in 2010. More recently, their songs were used in a new musical called New York, New York. This show ran from April to July 2023.

Musicals by Kander and Ebb

• Flora, The Red Menace (1965)
• Cabaret (1966)
• Go Fly a Kite (1966)
• 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 (1999)
• Liza's Back (2002)
• Curtains (2006)
• The Scottsboro Boys (2010)
• The Visit (2015)
• New York, New York (2023)

Films with Kander and Ebb Music

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

Television Shows with Kander and Ebb Music

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