Friedrich Hollaender (1896-1976) was born in London to a German family with a musical background. He studied at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin (where his father was a teacher) and played the piano for silent movies in local theaters. He had a thriving career in Berlin’s cabaret scene before his Jewish ancestry forced him to leave Germany when the Nazis took over. He wound up in Hollywood, starting another successful career composing for films and frequently collaborating with Marlene Dietrich.