About Herbert Kretzmer
Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 1925 – 14 October 2020) was a South African-born British journalist and lyricist. He was best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of Les Misérables and for his collaboration with French singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour. == Early life == Kretzmer was born in Kroonstad, South Africa on October 5, 1925. He was one of four sons of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants William and Tilly Kretzmer, who fled the pogroms of Tsarist Russia to settle in small-town South Africa early in the 20th century. His parents ran a furniture store. Kretzmer's oldest brother, Elliot, flew as part of a bomber crew in the South African Air Force during the Second World War, eventually becoming the Mayor of Johannesburg in 1991. Kretzmer matriculated at Kroonstad High School and then attended Rhodes University. == Journalist == Kretzmer began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel. However, he soon moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg Sunday Express. He subsequently relocated to London in 1954, and pursued twin careers as journalist and lyric writer.
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