Collectively, the men and women who composed songs for Broadway (and, to a lesser extent, Hollywood) from the 1920s through '60s created what we call today "The Great American Songbook." Their names are synonymous with great music: Lerner and Lowe, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Loesser, Kern, Warren, Styne.
Not only did they create hit after Broadway hit ---- from "Show Boat" to "Oklahoma!" to "The King and I" ---- but their songs were the raw material that the 20th century's best singers used to create their signature performances. Try to think of Bing Crosby's career without "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) or "Stardust" (Hoagy Carmichael), Sinatra without "I've Got You Under My Skin" (Cole Porter) or "Luck Be a Lady" (Frank Loesser) or Ella Fitzgerald without her collection of "songbooks," each built around the works of a single songwriter.
"Geniuses of the American Musical Theatre: The Composers and Lyricists," by Herbert Keyser, does a nice job of collecting the biographies of the composers and lyricists of Broadway, from the generation that created the modern musical in the 1920s to current megastars Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Each biography gives a bit of family background, the childhood years, each artist's introduction to music and their struggles and successes (and often later struggles).
Although the stories are complete, they could have used some editing. Keyser (who is appearing at the Oceanside Barnes and Noble at 7 p.m. Friday) at times repeats information he's already covered. And while the biographies are mostly linear, at times he unexpectedly (and jarringly) bounces around. Also, the focus is often a bit heavy on love lives and sexual indiscretions ---- most of which aren't really germane to the music.
What's really missing here, though, are more thoughts of the songwriters themselves. There are far too few inclusions of what the writers thought of their work, and when we do get that, it's generally from a paraphrased reference, such as: "He always thought it was his best song," rather than an actual quote.
While Keyser doesn't appear to have done much, if any, primary research (instead capsulizing other authors' full-length biographies), this is a handy volume to have for its all-in-one nature, providing basic biographical information on everyone from Fats Waller and Jerome Kern (who were writing in the early 20th century) up through the present. The bibliography and footnotes also provide a nice starting point for readers interested in learning more.
And the book is absolutely gorgeous ---- an oversized, coffee table-sized volume printed on heavy stock and loaded with photos. The dust jacket is similarly high-class, and the chart of hit shows that closes each chapter offers a nice summation of each composer's career.
Keyser's writing may not fully deliver on the promise of the stellar packaging, but it is a fun, informative read about some truly creative people.
"Geniuses of the American Musical Theatre: The Composers and Lyricists"
** 1/2 (out of four)
Author: Herbert Keyser
Publisher: Applause Books
Binding: Hardcover
Pages:304, illustrated, index, footnotes
Price: $29.99
