Andrew Lloyd Webber was born on March 22, 1948, in London, England. He grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a piano teacher. By the age of nine, he was already writing his own music. His first big success came at age 21 with the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It started as a short piece for a school concert but grew into a full show. His most famous works include Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history, performing for over 35 years. Webber's music is known for its dramatic melodies. Songs like "Memory" from Cats and "The Music of the Night" from Phantom are recognized around the world. His shows have been translated into dozens of languages and performed in more than 30 countries. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and became Lord Lloyd-Webber. Despite his enormous success, he has said that his greatest joy is still hearing an audience react to his music for the first time.