American Songbook Study Guide
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Pop and jazz singers who gave life to the songs of the iconic American music composers, helped to define a collection of musical standards known as the American Songbook. John Pizzarelli and Jane Monheit visit with LEGENDS OF JAZZ host Ramsey Lewis about jazz and its part in developing the American Songbook. With solo performances by each guest and a memorable duet rendering of Gershwin’s classic, “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” Pizzarelli and Monheit both prove the timeless nature of these great American classics. Click here to learn more about these great artists and explore our educational activities and resources.
1 - American Songbook LegendsThe beginning of the 20th century marked an important time in the development of American music. It was then that a special class of composers (all born within a 28-year span) gave the world a significant body of music that transcends virtually all styles of music even today. Among this class of legendary songwriting composers are the following: Jerome Kern (1885-1945) Irving Berlin (1888-1989) Cole Porter (1891-1964) George Gershwin (1898-1937) Edward Kennedy “Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) Vernon Duke (1903-1969) Harold Arlen (1905-1986) Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990) Sammy Cahn (1913-1993) Many of the great pop and jazz singers who gave life to the songs of these iconic American music composers, helped to define a collection of song standards known as the American Songbook. It was jazz vocal luminaries Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Nat “King” Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Peggy Lee who made many of the songs from the American Songbook timeless. |
2 - John PizzarelliAll about John Pizzarelli |
3 - Jane MonheitAll about Jane Monheit |
4 - Guests' Media-ographyDiscography, Bibliography, and Videography |
5 - The American Songbook QuizAfter you view The American Songbook episode, click here to take the quiz. |
6 - Quiz AnswersAnswers to the Questions |
