The American Songbook: The Singers Songwriters & The Songs

About this book

Presented in the striking format of Ken Blooms successful Broadway Musicals this rich visual history of popular song covers all of the prominent figures behind the music in front of the bandstand and on top of the piano. The Singers includes Louis Armstrong Tony Bennett Barbara Cook Bing Crosby Rosemary Clooney Ella Fitzgerald and dozens more; The Songwriters features Harold Arlen Hoagy Carmichael Dorothy Fields Stephen Foster Richard Rodgers Duke Ellington Cole Porter Jerome Kern and a host of others; a lively section discusses the Big Bands; and a decade-by-decade insert puts the entire history of popular music in perspective through words and pictures. Each one of the more than 200 listings in the book features the artists personal and professional history great songs and important contributions plus photos (many rare) record covers anecdotes quotes and more. Sidebars and features throughout cover topics of interesteverything from Arrangers Vocal Groups and Keepers of the Flame to Tin Pan Alley Parodists and Classical Crossoversmaking this the most thorough survey of its kind. Throughout all of the great songs are discussedliterally hundreds of songs from Stardust to My Funny Valentine to White Christmas. Illustrated biographies discographies chronologies and indices make The American Songbook a full-fledged reference as well as a pictorial feast.