Loewe << loh >>, Frederick (1901-1988), was a musical comedy composer best known for his collaborations with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. The team created several hit musicals, including My Fair Lady (1956), one of the most popular shows in theater history. Lerner and Loewe also collaborated on Brigadoon (1947), Paint Your Wagon (1951), and Camelot (1960). The team composed the score for the motion picture Gigi (1958) and won an Academy Award for the title song.
Loewe was born in Berlin, Germany. His father was a famous performer in operettas. Loewe was a child prodigy on the piano. At the age of 13, he became the youngest soloist to appear with the Berlin Symphony. When he was 15, Loewe wrote a song called “Katrina” that became a hit throughout Europe.
In 1924, Loewe moved to the United States. He began composing for the musical theater in the 1930’s. His first show, Salute to Spring (1937), was presented in St. Louis. Loewe met Alan Jay Lerner in 1942. Their first Broadway show together was What’s Up? (1943), which had a short run. Their next musical, The Day Before Spring (1945), had a longer run, but the team did not achieve their first hit until their next musical, Brigadoon. The final Lerner and Loewe stage collaboration was an adaptation of Gigi in 1973. They also wrote the score for the motion picture The Little Prince (1974).
