Buz Kohan
Buz Kohan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alan W. Kohan August 9, 1933 Bronx,New York City,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Television writer, record producer, composer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1963–2008 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingDavidandJenji |
| Parent(s) | Charles Kohan May Kohan |
Alan "Buz" Kohan(born August 9, 1933) is an Americantelevisionwriter, producer and composer.[1]
Early life
[edit]Kohan was born to aJewishfamily[2]in theBronx, New York City,[3]the son of Charles (b. 1902) and May Kohan.[3]His father was in theleotardbusiness and his mother was a housewife.[3]
Career
[edit]Kohan studied at theUniversity of Rochester'sEastman School of Music,earning bachelor's and master's degrees in 1955 and 1956, respectively. After working in New York, in 1967, he was offered work onThe Carol Burnett Show,relocating to Los Angeles.[4]
As a television producer, he produced many television specials, includingBing Crosby's Christmas Show(1970),Perry Como's Winter Show(1971),Bing Crosbyand the Sounds of Christmas(1971),TheArthur GodfreySpecial(1972),The Keane BrothersShow,Gene Kelly:An American in Pasadena(1978), andShirley MacLaine:Illusions(1982).
As a writer, he wrote special material forNight of One Hundred Stars,produced atRadio City Music Hall,New York City in 1982, and also (withMarvin Hamlisch,Christopher Adler, andLarry Grossman)Shirley MacLaine on Broadway,produced atGershwin Theatre,New York City, in 1984. He wrote songs with (and for) his dear friend singer-entertainerMichael Jackson,such as "You Were There" (a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. sung by Jackson), "Gone Too Soon"(written during the early '80s, recorded later for Jackson'sDangerousalbum released in 1991 as a tribute to Ryan White), "Scared of the Moon" (a rare song from 1984, sung by Michael Jackson, released in 2004 by Sony Music), and "Make a Wish," a never-heard song written by Kohan and sung by Jackson, for the Steven Spielberg version of Peter Pan,Hook.He also co-wrote the Christmas classic "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"forDavid BowieandBing Crosby.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Kohan met his wifeRhea Arnoldwhen she was working inLake George, New York.[4]They married on July 17, 1962, and they have three children together: Jono,David Kohan(who are twins), andJenji Kohan.As Rhea Kohan, his wife has published the novelsSave Me a Seat(Harper & Row, 1979) andHand-Me-Downs(Random House, 1980).
He and his children David and Jenji have all won Emmys, making them one of just 15 families with parents and children who have won.[6]
References
[edit]- ^"Buz Kohan Biography (1933-)".Film Reference.Retrieved8 August2014.
- ^Jewish Journal: "Jenji Kohan: Smoking the Stereotypes" by Danielle BerrinMay 20, 2009
- ^abcEmmy TV Legends Interview: "Buz Kohan on how he got his nickname"retrieved October 10, 2015
- ^abAushenker, Michael (27 March 2003)."Queen of Laughter: Rhea Kohan reigns as mistress of ceremonies at Jewish functions in Los Angeles".Jewish Journal.Retrieved8 August2014.
- ^Zaleski, Annie (30 November 2017)."When David Bowie and Bing Crosby Rang in the Holidays".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved20 December2022.
- ^September 20, EW Staff Updated; EDT, 2020 at 08:50 PM."Emmy-winning parents and their Emmy Award-winning children".EW.Retrieved2022-07-20.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
External links
[edit]- Buz KohanatIMDb
- Buz KohanatThe Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Buz Kohanat theInternet Broadway Database
- Buz KohanatPlaybillVault
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
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- 1933 births
- Living people
- Television producers from New York City
- American male screenwriters
- Jewish American screenwriters
- American male composers
- 21st-century American composers
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- American television writers
- Writers from the Bronx
- Screenwriters from New York City
- American male television writers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American Jews
- Eastman School of Music alumni
- American entertainer stubs