Eduard Künneke (27 January 1885 – 27 October 1953) was a prominent German composer, conductor, and pianist, renowned for his contributions to operettas, operas, and theatre music. Born in Emmerich, Lower Rhine, Künneke pursued studies in musicology and literature in Berlin, where he also translated "Beowulf" into German. He was a student of Max Bruch at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Künneke's career began in Berlin as a repetiteur and chorus master at the Neues Operettentheater am Schiffbauerdamm. His early operas, such as "Robins Ende" (1909) and "Coeur-As" (1913), were performed in numerous German opera houses. He also worked as a music director for Odeon Records, conducting early symphony recordings.

During World War I, Künneke served as a horn player and conductor in a regimental band. Post-war, he shifted focus to musical comedy, composing numerous operettas, including his most famous work, "Der Vetter aus Dingsda" (1921), which remains popular in Germany. His other notable operettas include "Lady Hamilton" (1926) and "Die große Sünderin" (1935).

Künneke collaborated with Max Reinhardt, providing incidental music for Goethe's "Faust." Despite a challenging tour in the United States, he was celebrated as the "Master of German Operetta" during the National Socialist era. Künneke was married to opera singer Katarina Garden, and their daughter, Evelyn Künneke, became a renowned singer and actress.

Künneke's music is characterized by its rhythm and harmonies, leaving a lasting legacy in German music. He passed away in Berlin in 1953, remembered as a significant figure in the world of operetta.