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More copies of this ISBNA Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singersby Will Friedwald
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Will Friedwald’s illuminating, opinionated essays—provocative, funny, and personal—on the lives and careers of more than three hundred singers anatomize the work of the most important jazz and popular performers of the twentieth century. From giants like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland to lesser-known artists like Jeri Southern and Joe Mooney, they have created a body of work that continues to please and inspire. Here is the most extensive biographical and critical survey of these singers ever written, as well as an essential guide to the Great American Songbook and those who shaped the way it has been sung.
The music crosses from jazz to pop and back again, from the songs of Irving Berlin and W. C. Handy through Stephen Sondheim and beyond, bringing together straightforward jazz and pop singers (Billie Holiday, Perry Como); hybrid artists who moved among genres and combined them (Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé); the leading men and women of Broadway and Hollywood (Ethel Merman, Al Jolson); yesterday’s vaudeville and radio stars (Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor); and today’s cabaret artists and hit-makers (Diana Krall, Michael Bublé). Friedwald has also written extended pieces on the most representative artists of five significant genres that lie outside the songbook: Bessie Smith (blues), Mahalia Jackson (gospel), Hank Williams (country and western), Elvis Presley (rock ’n’ roll), and Bob Dylan (folk-rock).
Friedwald reconsiders the personal stories and professional successes and failures of all these artists, their songs, and their performances, appraising both the singers and their music by balancing his opinions with those of fellow musicians, listeners, and critics.
This magisterial reference book—ten years in the making—will delight and inform anyone with a passion for the iconic music of America, which continues to resonate throughout our popular culture. Review:"In this passionately opinionated encyclopedia of the old-school virtuosos of the American songbook, music writer Friedwald (Sinatra!) celebrates 200-odd performers of jazz and pop standards, from the mid-20th-century titans--Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra--to latter-day acolytes like Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr., with a raft of unjustly obscure singers in between. (Forget the Andrews Sisters--get a load of the Boswell Sisters!) Friedwald is all about the music; he primly shies away from his subjects' scandal-prone personal lives, but accords each a substantial career retrospective, selected discography and wonderfully pithy interpretive essay. His tastes are wide-ranging and idiosyncratic: he plumbs the artistry of Jimmy Durante's and Shirley Temple's novelty voices, decries the bombastic narcissism of 'sacred monster' Barbra Streisand--'I remain completely unconvinced that she's a person who needs people'--and considers perky Doris Day's pop gems 'the most erotic vocalizing you'll ever hear.' However unconventional, his judgments are usually spot-on, as in his compelling reassessment of Elvis as the last great Crosbyesque crooner. Friedwald's exuberant medley is that rarest of things: music criticism that actually makes you sit up and listen. (Nov. 2)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)
Book News Annotation:This encyclopedia of jazz and pop singers of the twentieth century includes biographical essays on over three hundred of the era's best performers. Friedwald, a noted jazz journalist, describes the lives and music of some of the most interesting and influential performers of the age, detailing their personal lives, famous songs and performances and important career milestones. The work covers all the household names in jazz and pop such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as lesser known singers with details of the complex webs of musical influence between performers and on the fabric of American music. The volume is divide into two sections, the first comprising entries on individual singers and the second grouping singers topically under headings such as "Hollywood Divas," "Torch Singers and Flappers," and "Contemporary Cabaret." This definitive work will be of interest to musicologists, jazz aficionados and students of American popular culture. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Synopsis:Covering such icons as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland, Friedwald presents the most extensive biographical and critical survey of jazz and popular singers ever written--an essential guide to the Great American Songbook and those who performed it.
Synopsis:The most extensive biographical and critical survey of jazz and popular singers ever written—an essential guide to the Great American Songbook and those who performed it.
These illuminating, opinionated essays—provocative, funny, and personal—on the lives and careers of more than three hundred singers anatomize the work of the greatest popular vocalists of the twentieth century, from giants like Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland to lesser-known artists whose work still pleases and inspires.
Will Friedwald reconsiders their personal stories and professional successes and failures, their songs and performances, appraising both the singers and their music by balancing his opinions with the criticism of fellow musicians, listeners, and critics. This magisterial reference book—ten years in the making— brings into focus the Great American Songbook and the men and women who have sung it: straightforward jazz and pop singers; hybrid artists who moved among and combined genres; the leading men and women of Broadway and Hollywood; yesterday’s vaudeville stars and today’s cabaret artists.
A must-have for anyone with a passion for the classic, iconic music of America—the music that continues to resonate throughout our popular culture. About the AuthorWILL FRIEDWALD is the author of, among other works, Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America’s Most Popular Songs; Jazz Singing: America’s Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond; and Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer’s Art. One of the leading contemporary writers of liner notes for music albums, he was the New York Sun jazz critic for seven years. Other publications he has written for include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City.
Table of ContentsThis table of contents includes an alphabetical list of all the artists featured in the dictionary: individual artists, the five “extras” (iconic singers in other genres), and those included in multiple artist entries. These multiple artist groupings, which are in more or less chronological order, are also listed below for your reference.
Introduction
Individual Artists
Lorez Alexandria Ernestine Anderson Ivie Anderson Julie Andrews The Andrews Sisters Harold Arlen Lil Hardin Armstrong Louis Armstrong Fred Astaire Gene Austin Harry Babbitt Mildred Bailey Pearl Bailey Chet Baker Josephine Baker Tex Beneke Tony Bennett Andy Bey Connee Boswell and the Boswell Sisters Al Bowlly Dee Dee Bridgewater Hadda Brooks Cleo Brown Michael Bublé Jackie Cain Ann Hampton Callaway Cab Calloway Eddie Cantor Una Mae Carlisle Hoagy Carmichael Barbara Carroll Betty Carter Ray Charles June Christy Peter Cincotti Buddy Clark Rosemary Clooney Freddy Cole Nat King Cole Natalie Cole Russ Columbo Perry Como Eric Comstock Harry Connick, Jr. Chris Connor Barbara Cook Sam Cooke Sir Noel Coward Bing Crosby Jamie Cullum Vic Damone Bobby Darin Sammy Davis Jr. Doris Day Blossom Dearie Matt Dennis Johnny Desmond Marlene Dietrich Alfred Drake Jimmy Durante Bob Dylan Ray Eberle Bob Eberly Billy Eckstine Cliff Edwards Kurt Elling Skinnay Ennis Ruth Etting Alice Faye Michael Feinstein Gracie Fields Ella Fitzgerald Helen Forrest Aretha Franklin Judy Garland Eydie Gormé Robert Goulet Buddy Greco Adelaide Hall Annette Hanshaw Mary Cleere Haran Allan Harris Marion Harris Johnny Hartman Dick Haymes Bill Henderson Woody Herman Al Hibbler Billie Holiday Shirley Horn Lena Horne Helen Humes Hutch (Leslie Hutchinson) Betty Hutton Marion Hutton Alberta Hunter Mahalia Jackson Eddie Jefferson Herb Jeffries Clarence Johnstone Al Jolson Etta Jones Jack Jones Louis Jordan Sheila Jordan Kitty Kallen Howard Keel Richard Kiley Teddi King Eartha Kitt Irene Kral Roy Kral Diana Krall Cleo Laine Frankie Laine Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross Dorothy Lamour Turner Layton Steve Lawrence Barbara Lea Julia Lee Peggy Lee Abbey Lincoln Julie London Nick Lucas Nellie Lutcher Gloria Lynne Gordon MacRae Kevin Mahogany Andrea Marcovicci Dean Martin Mary Martin Johnny Mathis Susannah McCorkle Audra McDonald Ray McKinley Carmen McRae Johnny Mercer Mabel Mercer Ethel Merman Helen Merrill The Mills Brothers Guy Mitchell Matt Monro Joe Mooney Helen Morgan Lee Morse Mark Murphy Rose Murphy Anita O’Day Patti Page Jackie Paris King Pleasure Elvis Presley Louis Prima Arthur Prysock John Raitt Ramona Lou Rawls Johnnie Ray Martha Raye Della Reese Dianne Reeves Irene Reid Ann Richards Jimmy Rushing (Little) Jimmy Scott Daryl Sherman Dinah Shore Bobby Short Nina Simone Ginny Simms Frank Sinatra Carol Sloane Bessie Smith Kate Smith Jeri Southern Jo Stafford Kay Starr Dakota Staton Barbra Streisand Maxine Sullivan Sylvia Syms Jack Teagarden Shirley Temple Teri Thornton Martha Tilton Mel Tormé Sophie Tucker George “Bon Bon” Tunnell Rudy Vallee Sarah Vaughan Bea Wain Fats Waller Helen Ward Dinah Washington Ethel Waters Elizabeth Welch Margaret Whiting Lee Wiley Andy Williams Hank Williams Joe Williams Cassandra Wilson Julie Wilson Nancy Wilson Edythe Wright
Multiple Artists The Birth of the Croon: Cliff Edwards, Nick Lucas, Rudy Vallee, and Russ Columbo
Torch Singers and Flappers: Marion Harris, Ruth Etting, Helen Morgan, and Annette Hanshaw
African Americans Abroad: Adelaide Hall, Josephine Baker, Elisabeth Welch, and Alberta Hunter
There’ll Always Be an England: Hutch, Layton & Johnstone, and Gracie Fields
Female Band Singers I Benny’s Babes: Helen Ward, Martha Tilton, and Helen Forrest
Sing a Song of Ellington: Ivie Anderson, Herb Jeffries, and Al Hibbler
Sing a Song of Miller: Male (Mostly) Band Singers I—Bob Eberly, Ray Eberle, Marion Hutton, Johnny Desmond, Tex Beneke, and Ray McKinley
Singing Songwriters: Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, and Johnny Mercer
Female Bandsingers II—Big Bands into Pop: Edythe Wright, Bea Wain, Ginny Simms, Kitty Kallen
Male Band Singers II—Exceptional Boychicks: Harry Babbitt and George “Bon Bon” Tunnell
Hollywood Divas: Alice Faye, Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Temple, and Betty Hutton
Two Inimitables: Sir Noel Coward and Marlene Dietrich
Fats’s Femme Followers: Lee Morse, Ramona, Cleo Brown, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Una Mae Carlisle, Julia Lee, Nellie Lutcher, Rose Murphy, and Hadda Brooks
Big Pop (Male): Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray, Guy Mitchell, Johnny Mathis, and Andy Williams
Hipsters and Bopsters: King Pleasure, Eddie Jefferson, Jackie Cain, Roy Kral, Irene Kral, Ann Richards, and Cleo Laine
Lee Wiley’s Boston Connection: Teddi King and Barbara Lea
Leading Ladies: Barbara Cook and Julie Andrews
Leading Men—In Defense of the Broadway Baritone: Alfred Drake, John Raitt, Gordon MacRae, Howard Keel, and Robert Goulet
Dinah’s Daughters—Soulful Ladies and Local Favorites: Etta Jones, Gloria Lynne, Teri Thornton, Irene Reid, and Lorez Alexandria
Two Soulful Gentlemen: Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls
Blossom’s Buds and Dearie’s Daughters: Barbara Carroll, Daryl Sherman, and Ann Hampton Callaway
Rock Goes Standards!: From Connie Francis to Rod Stewart
Dynasty: Freddy Cole and Natalie Cole
Contemporary Male Jazz Singers: Allan Harris, Kevin Mahogany, and Kurt Elling
Contemporary Cabaret: Andrea Marcovicci, Mary Cleere Haran, Michael Feinstein, and Eric Comstock
Harry Connick Jr. and the Retro Crooner Boychicks: Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Jamie Cullum, and Peter Cincotti Extras Folk-Rock: Bob Dylan Gospel: Mahalia Jackson Rock ’n’ Roll: Elvis Presley Blues: Bessie Smith Country and Western: Hank Williams What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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Arts and Entertainment » Music » Genres and Styles » Jazz
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