Lyricist for Marvin Hamlisch's music of A Chorus Line, for which he won the 1975 Tony®, Drama Desk, The Olivier, and The Pulitzer Prize. Kleban was a graduate of the High School of Music and Art and Columbia University, where he wrote music for The Variety Show with book by future playwright Terrence McNally. During the 1960's he was a record producer at Columbia Records. Kleban was a composer as well as a lyricist. His song, "Let's Hear It For Babies" was included in the acclaimed TV Special "Free To Be You and Me." Kleban wrote music as well as lyrics for several unproduced musicals which make up the score of A Class Act, a musical about his life. He died from cancer of the mouth in 1987 at the age of 48.  Nominated for Music Best Song 1985: A CHORUS LINE "Surprise, Surprise" - Lyric 1 nomination