Great American Songbook: Part 1

Presented by John Clark and his Great American Music Experience

The 1920s through the 1950s was the era of Great American Songbook  (also called the Tin Pan Alley era) and you’ll see hear recordings and performances of many of its most memorable songs, all written by four of its most important lyricist and composers. The story began when music publishers set up shop in a section of Manhattan near the end of the 1800s. Their first songwriting star was Jewish immigrant Irving Berlin whose first hit was Alexander’s Ragtime Band and whose God Bless America was unveiled on national radio some 25 years later (not to mention White Christmas). In the 1920s, George Gershwin had his first big hit with Swanee and then composed the brilliant Rhapsody in Blue. In the thirties he collaborated with brother Ira to write the music for America’s first folk opera, Porgy and Bess and great songs like I’ve Got Rhythm and Someone to Watch Over Me. Jerome Kern co-wrote the landmark Showboat with Oscar Hammerstein and went on to compose music for standards like Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and The Way You Look Tonight. Experience these legendary songs and many, many more!

About John Clark: Music Historian, Lecturer

Great American Music Experience – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

John teaches classes on Bob Dylan, American Roots music, fifties and sixties music for community education programs in Newton, Lexington, Brookline and Cambridge and in adult Ed programs at Brandeis and Tufts Universities. He also presents the history of Jewish-American songwriters at various local synagogues.

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