Joel Grey

Joel Grey, born Joel David Katz on April 11, 1932, is an American actor, singer, dancer and director whose career spans stage, film and photography. He is best known for creating the role of the Master of Ceremonies in the Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret, both on Broadway and in the 1972 film adaptation, a performance that earned him a Tony Award and an Academy Award and remains one of the defining performances in American musical theater.

Grey's voice belongs to the classic Broadway tradition rather than pop or rock radio, built for character-driven storytelling within a show rather than standalone singles. Songs like «Willkommen», «Two Ladies» and «Money Money» showcase his sly, theatrical delivery in Cabaret, while «Wonderful» and «The Money Song» reflect his other major stage roles, including originating George M. Cohan in George M! and later playing the Wizard in Wicked.

Beyond music, Grey built a long career as a character actor in film and television and later became a respected photographer. His work bridges golden-age Broadway showmanship with a distinctive, understated screen presence, making him a singular figure whose recordings are best understood as extensions of specific theatrical roles rather than a conventional recording career.