Biography
Herbert Kretzmer was a South African-born British journalist and lyricist. Born in Kroonstad in 1925, he moved to London in the 1950s and worked as a feature writer, drama critic for the Daily Express and television critic for the Daily Mail.
He was best known for writing the English lyrics for the stage musical Les Misérables, which opened in London in 1985 and became one of the longest-running West End shows. Kretzmer also contributed to the 2012 film adaptation of the musical. His other lyric work included collaborations with Charles Aznavour on songs such as "She" and the 1960 hit "Goodness Gracious Me".
Kretzmer received a Tony Award and a Grammy Award for his Les Misérables lyrics, and was appointed OBE in 2011. He died in London in 2020.
