Frederick Loewe was an Austrian-American composer.
16 Facts About Frederick Loewe
2.
Frederick Loewe collaborated with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner on a series of Broadway musicals, including Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, and Camelot, all of which were made into films, as well as the original film musical Gigi, which was first transferred to the stage in 1973.
3.
Frederick Loewe's father was a noted Jewish operetta star who performed throughout Europe and in North and South America; he starred as Count Danilo in the 1906 Berlin production of The Merry Widow.
4.
Frederick Loewe grew up in Berlin and attended a Prussian cadet school from the age of five until he was thirteen.
5.
At an early age Frederick Loewe learned to play piano by ear and helped his father rehearse, and he began composing songs at age seven.
6.
Frederick Loewe eventually attended the Stern Conservatory in Berlin, one year behind virtuoso Claudio Arrau, and studied with Ferruccio Busoni and Eugene d'Albert.
7.
Frederick Loewe won the coveted Hollander Medal awarded by the school and gave performances as a concert pianist while still in Germany.
8.
In 1924, his father received an offer to appear in New York City, and Frederick Loewe traveled there with him, determined to write for Broadway.
9.
Frederick Loewe eventually found work playing piano in German clubs in Yorkville and in movie theaters as the accompanist for silent films.
10.
Frederick Loewe began to visit the Lambs Club, a hangout for theater performers, producers, managers and directors.
11.
Frederick Loewe credited The Lambs for keeping him working until his career expanded, and left a share of his royalties of Brigadoon to The Lambs Foundation.
12.
Frederick Loewe then decided to retire to Palm Springs, California, where he bought a home in 1960.
13.
Frederick Loewe was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.
14.
Frederick Loewe remained in Palm Springs until his death at 86.
15.
Frederick Loewe had a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars dedicated to him in 1995.
16.
Frederick Loewe was buried in the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.