Kander, John

Kander, (Harold) John

(1927– ) composer; born in Kansas City, Mo. After earning a master's degree at Columbia University, he worked in the 1950s as a rehearsal pianist, dance arranger, and conductor for Broadway musicals. His first Broadway score was for A Family Affair (1961). With lyricist Fred Ebb he wrote the score for the hit musicals Cabaret (1968), Chicago (1975), and Woman of the Year (1981); they also contributed songs to the musical films Funny Lady (1975) and New York, New York (1977). In the 1980s he composed music for nonmusical films.