Loewe, Frederick

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1901-06-10
Death 1988-02-14
Americans

Biographical notes:

Frederick Loewe, composer. Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.

From the description of Camelot: typescript, n.d. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122314266

From the description of Camelot: typescript, n.d. [electronic resource]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 755039721

Biographical Note

1901, June 10 Born, Berlin, Germany, to Edmund Loewe, a well-known Viennese tenor who originated the role of Prince Danilo in The Merry Widow (1906) and Rosa (Rose) Stagl Loewe, an actress. Loewe occasionally claimed that he was born in Vienna, Austria, which could have been due to his fear of anti-German sentiment after World War II 1906 Began piano lessons 1906 1914 Attended Berlin Military Academy circa 1908 Began composing Contributed several numbers to his father's variety act circa 1910 circa 1920 Studied music at Stern Conservatory in Berlin Studied piano with Ferruccio Busoni and Eugen d'Albert Studied composition and orchestrations with Emil Nikolaus von Rezniček 1914 Became the youngest piano soloist to appear with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra 1916 Composed hit song "Katrina" 1923 Awarded the Hollander Medal for piano 1924 Accompanied parents on a trip to the United States Gave a concert at New York’s Town Hall circa 1925 circa 1929 Worked odd jobs in New York such as, busboy in a cafeteria, bantam weight boxer at a Brooklyn athletic club circa 1929 circa 1930 Worked out West as itinerant cowboy, gold prospector, cowpuncher in Montana, mail carrier on horseback circa 1930 circa 1939 Played piano in Greenwich Village nightclub and at the Rivoli Theatre, a movie house on Broadway; taught horseback riding at a New Hampshire resort; played piano on cruise ships and in Yorkville beerhalls 1931 Married Ernestine “Tina” Zwerleine, manager of the Hattie Carnegie fashion enterprises (divorced 1957) 1933 Played piano in pit orchestra for operetta Champagne, Sec Befriended cast member Kitty Carlisle 1935, Mar. 4 Operetta Petticoat Fever opened (Loewe song interpolated into its score) 1935 Joined the Lambs Club in New York 1935 1940 Worked on two unproduced musicals: Saints and Sinners in collaboration with Harold Rome, and The Milkman’s Serenade in collaboration with James Tranter 1936, Jan. 22 The Illustrator’s Show opened (Loewe song interpolated into its score) 1937, June 12 Salute to Spring, with Loewe score, opened in St. Louis, Missouri 1938, Dec. 1 Great Lady, with Loewe score, opened 1942, Mar. 27 Gave recital at Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, including excerpts from his own Insect Suite 1942 Met Alan Jay Lerner at the Lambs Club Lerner and Loewe composed the score for the show The Life of the Party 1943, Nov. 11 What’s Up?, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1945, Nov. 22 The Day Before Spring, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1947, Mar. 13 Brigadoon, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1951, Nov. 12 Paint Your Wagon, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1956, Mar. 15 My Fair Lady, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1958, Feb. 26 Suffered heart attack 1958 Gigi (film), with Lerner and Loewe score, released 1960, Dec. 3 Camelot, with Lerner and Loewe score, opened 1960 1969 Lived in Palm Springs, California in the winter, the Riviera in the spring, the Tyrol in the summer, and occasionally in New York 1962 Travelled to Japan with Burgess Meredith to research a musical 1967, Oct. 24 Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary degree), New York University 1973, Nov. 13 Stage version of Gigi opened, with four new Lerner and Loewe songs 1974 The Little Prince (film), with Lerner and Loewe score, released 1979, May 14 Gala tribute for Lerner and Loewe at the Winter Garden Theater 1985 Received Kennedy Center Honor 1986, June 14 Alan Jay Lerner died 1988, Feb. 14 Loewe died from a heart attack at his home, Palm Springs, California

From the guide to the Frederick Loewe Collection, 1923-1988, (bulk 1945-1975), (Music Division Library of Congress)

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Subjects:

  • Theater
  • Composers
  • Motion picture music
  • Motion picture music
  • Music
  • Musical films
  • Musicals
  • Musicals
  • Musicals
  • Musical theater
  • Popular music
  • Orchestral music, Arranged
  • Motion picture music
  • Musicals
  • Musicals

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  • Composers

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