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VOLUME 40, NUMBER 9 Formerly New York Sheet Music Society www.APSSinc.org JUNE 2019 Spring Is Here: Sandi Durell Presents 14 th Annual Songwriters Series
By Jerry Osterberg While APSS members James T. Kelly sang weren’t sitting around little “Soliloquy,” and they tables drinking May wine at performed “Let’s Put All the recent meeting, they were This Behind Us” as a duet. certainly enjoying other Clint’s pieces have been signs of Spring such as the performed worldwide. He is smell of freshly cut grass, currently at work on a walking at a slower pace, the musical about Walt sound of birds and buskers in Whitman’s life during the the air, people falling in love, Civil War. Called Whitman’s and Sandi Durell’s annual War, it was recently Songwriters Series. Indeed, performed in concert at since the program usually William Paterson University. takes place in May, it’s a Jude Obermuller has good bet that the worst composed for Julius Caesar, symptoms of Winter are long Farragut North, Alice in gone. Better that Harburg’s Top row: (L-R) Robert Grusecki, Anya Turner, Jake Friedman, Joanna Kucharczyk, Ashley Wonderland, Feet Keep Me lyric had read “Maytime in Ryan, Pedro Coppeti, Madelyn Monaghan, Jude Obermueller. Middle Row: James T. Flyin’ and most notably Miss Paris.” Kelly, Kaleigh Cronin, Clint Edwards. Bottom Row: Chuck Stephan, Ron Abel, Sandi, Havisham’s Wedding. Jude Andrea Prestinario, Sara Zahn, Allan Kashkin The afternoon opened also acts as the Music with Pedro Coppeti, a Carousel “You’ll Never Anya Turner and Robert Director and arranger for Brazilian born bass-baritone, Walk Alone.” Grusecki, who contributed Frances Ruffelle and who has appeared in theater Lyricist Sara Zahn, “I’d Rather Be With You,” Michael John LaChiusa. productions of Phantom of accompanied by her “How Do I Look,” and Jude’s vocalists, Claire the Opera , as the Phantom, composer husband Allan “Listen.” Anya sang the first Ortuzar and Madelyn Les Miserables , as Javert, Kashkin, performed a jazzy, two and joined Robert, who Monaghan, both of whom and Nativitaten, the largest up-tempo “No Good For accompanied every tune, in a have long and impressive outdoor Christmas pageant in Me,” with a bit of Ella scat, duet for “Listen,” the title for resumes, performed a duet the World, performing as the “I Keep Your Love With the seventh and latest CD. and solos from Miss youngest principal soloist Me,” and “Addicted” in Their songs have been heard Haversham’s Wedding, ever. Since moving to New which the addiction of in theater, film, and in including “Silver,” a finalist York, Pedro has appeared in necessity is social media. cabaret. Two-time finalists for the UK’s Stiles + Drewe Broadway Rising Stars, Sara has written over 250 for the Richard Rodgers Best New Song Award. Lincoln Center, Carnegie songs for television, film and Award, they recently Jake S. Friedman, along Hall, and the New Jersey stage, including series received a Bistro Award for with his accompanist Joanna Performing Arts Center. themes and songs for PBS, Outstanding Songwriting. Kucharczyk and singer Bess Accompanied by Ashley Disney, Sony, and HBO. She Clint Edwards, last seen Eckstein, presented “Not Ryan, he sang has just released a new CD, at APSS as the Musical Gonna Dance,” “What That “Summertime” and “If I Both Sides of Bernstein, as a Director for Mark William, Could Be,” and “Queen of Loved You,” performed as a tribute to the Maestro for his arrived with two vocalists to Hearts” from Esther duet. Ashley was a centenary. perform songs from his play Unmasked, a retelling of a participant in Broadway Another team of My Beloved: A Ted Bundy bible story. Jake, who began Rising Stars in 2018, singing exceptionally talented Musical. Kaleigh Cronin writing prize winning poems another signature song from singer-songwriters were soloed on “Storybook Life,” Continued on page 3 PAGE 2 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY JUNE, 2019 President’s Message... American Popular Linda Amiel Burns, President Song Society
President: Dear Members, Friends, and Fans of APSS: Linda Amiel Burns Vice Presidents: Joan Adams As always, it is hard to believe that the amazing 2018-2019 season is coming to an Sandi Durell end and how quickly the years are flying by. I have been involved with this organization for over thirty years, ten as First Vice President, when it was the New York Sheet Music Treasurer & Membership: Glen Charlow Society , and over twenty years as President. I have been pleased to help guide our group towards becoming the American Popular Song Society, to watch it continue to grow Secretary: Marilyn Lester and present remarkable programs month after month, year after year. Board Of Directors: We are looking forward to the 2019-2020 season, and hope that we will still be at Elliott Ames Bill Boggs Local 802, as there is now a new regime at the union, and we are not sure if our Will Friedwald contract will be renewed. So just in case, if any of you know of another reasonable Michael Lavine Sandy Marrone location that might be good for our meetings, please get in touch with me. We never Jerry Osterberg know what is going to happen, and it is good to be prepared. Andrew Poretz Judy Stewart Tom Toce I want to thank Sandi Durell for another remarkable afternoon featuring her Mark William marvelous Songwriter Series . It is always thrilling to meet the new songwriters who are Membership Mailing Address: writing some of the standards of tomorrow. You can read all about this special afternoon American Popular Song Society of song in our feature article by Editor, Jerry Osterberg, and enjoy viewing the photos P.O. Box 5856 by Rose Billings. Pikesville, MD 21282 [email protected] (212) 315-3500 (Linda A. Burns) Do not miss our last meeting on Saturday, June 15 th ! Doors open at 1:00 for seating, networking, and browsing our Member Exchange Table for free great stuff! The N E W S L E T T E R Editor/Publisher: Jerry Osterberg Pre-show begins at 1:30 with the President’s announcements, followed by a performance [email protected] by a new and exciting young singer, and at 2:00PM - The Tribute to Meredith Willson Contributing Editor: Marilyn Lester produced by the incomparable Richard [email protected]
s Associate Editor: Joan Adams g n
Skipper! Richard always brings an all-star i [email protected] l l i
B Graphic Designer: Glen Charlow cast, and presents thrilling programs and e
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or y b fantastic show which will be coming in August [email protected] o t o to St. Luke’s Theater on Restaurant Row. h P Memberships can be paid with: Looking forward to seeing you on June 15th at The Musician’s Hall of Local 802, and wishing you a wonderful, safe, healthy, and fun-filled summer.
Keep Singing! via Paypal at www.APSSinc.org Linda Sandi Durell MEETING LOCATION: Local 802 – Musicians’ Hall 322 West 48th Street. Program: 1:45 – 3:30PM. Come early to look thru Sheet Music & CD’s & stuff, all FREE. JUNE, 2019 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 3 Songwriters... performed “Slow Dancing,” about Sandi’s shows, it’s no Broadway in Rock of Ages, and guest singer Andrea mystery how it became so Bonnie and Clyde, and Continued from page 1 Prestinario, a New York based popular. During the decade, Newsies, for which he and songs at the age of nine, singer and actress, sang “Until I’ve met songwriters Kenny received both Tony and studied visual storytelling at Then,” a big, dramatic, Ascher, Larry Kerchner, Grammy nominations. the NYU Tisch School of Broadway style show-stopper, Jennie Litt, and Joe Iconis, Fortunately for us, our Film/Television. Since written with Chuck Steffan. whose musical Be More Chill longtime Vice President is graduation, he’s published At present, he’s writing the is currently on Broadway; fully engaged in Musical books on animation art and score for Rockwell: Life on a musicians Tex Arnold, Sean theater, both on and off- history, and contributed to Palette, a musical tour of the Harkness, Tracy Stark, and Broadway, and in the cabaret numerous film and television Twentieth Century through pianist Jon Weber, who has community. Sandi sees a lot of projects. the paintings of Norman been known to bake a cake to performances and APSS is Ron Abel, who has Rockwell. celebrate Art Tatum’s clearly a major beneficiary of arranged, orchestrated, and My history with the New birthday; and singers Allan her many connections to the conducted for artists such as York Sheet Music Society and Harris, Karen Mason, Mark entertainment industry. Who Liza Minnelli, Brian Stokes the American Popular Song Nadler, and Jeremy Jordan, could ask for anything more? Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Society goes back just ten who, besides film and Lucie Arnaz, among others, years, but having written television, went on to MORE PICTURES on page 6 Baby Jane Dexter, A Cabaret Legend Dead At 72
Baby Jane Dexter, a cabaret singer who captured an of hope. There are few people in cabaret capable of expressing audience with her robust style and eclectic repertoire, died such depth of feeling.” on May 21. She first gained acclaim in the 1970’s, After a brief flirtation with Broadway in a appearing in New York City nightclubs as a production of Hair, and a Janis Joplin style bluesy singer with a powerful voice and rock singer, she turned to cabaret, drawing presence. After being out of show material from across the musical universe, business for a decade, she returned to including songs associated with Bessie the stage in the 1990’s, using elements Smith, Frank Sinatra, Screamin’ Jay from her personal life – her size, her Hawkins, Abbey Lincoln, the Beatles, experience of sexual assault and Stephen Sondheim, Tom Waits, Rufus depression – to heighten the emotional Wainwright, and the Four Tops. intensity of her performances. She told the Daily News in 1996: Critic John Hoglund, writing for “Every amount of wasted time, every Back Stage East in 2006, said: “Baby poor choice, every mistake, every single- Jane Dexter wields an eerie power and thing that happened to me went into making glory rarely found on a cabaret stage. She has me understand who I am and what I am. That’s the uncanny ability to unearth new meaning to why I came back to singing again. It was really evergreens and to personalize torchy ballads with a sense about moving forward.” Song Facts You May Not Know Moon By Stephen Vrattos MRoiovn Reirve: r With music by legendary film composer Henry Mancini, this beautiful tune was introduced in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s . After a successful San Francisco preview, a Paramount Pictures executive suggested deleting the song from the film immediately. Hepburn’s reaction has been described by Mancini and others as varying from her saying “over my dead body” to using somewhat more colorful language to make the same point. “Moon River” earned Mercer his third Oscar for Best Original Song, following 1946’s “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” and 1951’s “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.” Mercer and Mancini would repeat their Oscar win the next year for “The Days of Wine and Roses,” the back-to-back success an Academy Award first for any songwriting team. Though sung by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Andy Williams recorded what is still considered the definitive version of the song and performed it at the 1962 Academy Award ceremonies. He would win the Record of the Year Grammy that same year. Editor’s Note: Stephen Vrattos is a choral singer and New York based writer whose roots go back to Stan Lee and Marvel Comics. He is the proud creator of Captain Gravity. Stephen is currently an Editor for Playbill Magazine. PAGE 4 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY JUNE, 2019 We Got Trouble––Right Here in Mason City By Marilyn Lester Good Lord Bless and Keep You.” World America. War II interrupted his music director Getting The Music Man to Broadway career, but he resumed it in peacetime, also took almost a decade. Continuing to be producing a memoir in 1948 entitled And encouraged by Loesser, and by Cy Feuer There I Stood With My Piccolo. This was and Ernie Martin, who had brought Guys the work that was to eventually become and Dolls to Broadway, Willson began The Music Man. working on transforming his memoir into Friends and associates of Willson, a stage-worthy property. It was at this time including Frank Loesser, urged him to that Willson approached Franklin Lacey to create a musical from his memoir and help him further shape the book. Willson remembrances of Mason City. Later, when eventually wrote 40 drafts as well as 40 interviewed about the creation of the show, different songs for the show, with 18 Willson would inevitably remark, “I didn’t numbers making it into the final script. have to make up anything. I simply The long years of revisions and work paid remembered Mason City as closely as I off. The Music Man on Broadway was could.” Marian Paroo, the show’s female finally produced by Kermit Bloomgarden, lead and the love interest of con man directed by Morton DaCosta and Harold Hill, was inspired by Willson’s choreographed by Onna White. Powered mother (a music teacher) and by Marian by Robert Preston, who played Hill, and Seeley, whom Willson met during World by Barbara Cook as Marian, The Music War II , when Seeley was a medical Man was headed to legendary status. The Music Man, arguably one of the records librarian. Marian’s Music Man Willson had produced a masterwork, greatest of Broadway musicals , opened in mother is based on a German woman who perfect in almost every way. It was also December 1957, going on to win five groundbreaking in many respects, Tony Awards and play 1,375 particularly in the use of unrhyming lyrics performances, closing in April 1961. The and parlando. But Willson was never able cast album won the first-ever Grammy to replicate his success. It was Mason City Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and Willson’s memories of it that had spending 245 weeks on the Billboard propelled him and the show to greatness. charts. In The Music Man , Meredith He collaborated with Richard Morris Willson stands as one of the very few solo on The Unsinkable Molly Brown , but the creators to have written the book, music movie version featured only six of his and lyrics of a show. But the road to River songs. His next and final Broadway outing City, Iowa, the fictional town where the Robert Preston & Barbara Cook (Broadway) was the musical based on Miracle on 34 th musical is set, wasn’t a smooth one. The cleaned the Willson house every week. Street––Here’s Love , with book, music and Music Man’s birth did not come easy. The boy, Winthrop, who sings “Gary, lyrics written by Willson. It played 334 Willson was born in 1902 in the very Indiana,” is Willson himself as a ten year performances, far from being a success. real Mason City, Iowa, the inspiration for old. “Professor” Harold Hill, as Willson Willson in Mason City 1958 River City. He studied piccolo and flute in wrote in The New York Herald , “...is so high school and then went to New York many people that I remember different City to continue his studies at the Institute ones every time I see the show.” of Musical Art. Willson then worked as a And Mason City itself? Indeed it was flautist for John Phillip Sousa’s band, the as portrayed in The Music Man ––a Rialto theater orchestra, The New York provincial, close-knit Midwestern town Philharmonic and the NY Chamber Music where the “Iowa-stubborn” residents Society, before moving to the West Coast would absolutely blanche at the thought of in 1929. There he became a musical Balzac. Yet Willson had left Mason City at director on many national radio shows. He age 17 for the big wide world of New also began songwriting, composing York. His affectionate portrait of his birth You may call Meredith Willson a one- several standards such as “It’s Beginning city harkened to a time of innocence––a hit wonder for The Music Man , but what a to Look Like Christmas” and “May the kind of Paradise lost of pre-World War I wonder, and what a gift it has been. JUNE, 2019 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 5
Member Speaking of popular demand, Mark William will return to The Green Room 42 on Friday, June 7 @ 7:00 PM for a special Tony Award edition of Come News... Croon With Me. Mark will be accompanied by Clint Edwards and his stellar five-piece band.He was named one of the top-ten cabaret acts in 2018 by both TheaterPizzazz & Times Square Chronicles. The show is directed by th If you have any member news, or other items you would like to have Preston and Richard Ridge. 570 Tenth Avenue, 4 Floor in the YOTEL. considered for this newsletter, please send it by e-mail to the Editor, Tickets: 646-449-7792 or Jerry Osterbergg : [email protected]. It will be subject to [email protected] . editing, depending on size and content, and please remember that we try to go to press two weeks before each monthly meeting. We Congratulations to this year’s MAC Award winners Anita Gillette, Bobbie often get very good items that get to us after the newsletter has been Horowitz, Bob Levy, Marissa Mulder, Jeff Macauley, and Sidney Meyer. finalized and made available to the membership. Board member Marilyn Lester is now the Executive Director of the new nonprofit American Songbook Association (an outgrowth of the Cabaret Linda Amiel Burns, APSS President, is celebrating four decades of The Scenes foundation). The mission is publishing the magazine, bringing the Singing Experience. Several APSS members have taken this workshop, music into the schools and providing quality, low-cost performances to senior some more than once. For those of us who have, we can assure you that citizens, students and all who love songbook music. Please check you’ll feel like a pro by the night of the performance. Although many students out www.americansongbookassociation.org have never sung in public before, the supportive environment has prepared them well for their debut. Call Linda at 212-315-3500 to sign up. The Do you seek an elusive song? If you do, write APSS Board member Sandy Singing Experience Cable TV show continues on MNN Time Warner: Marrone @ [email protected] or call 856-829-6104. You can also visit Channel 56 or RCN: Channel 111. The program broadcasts are every Sandy in New Jersey to see thousands and thousands of sheets of music, Sunday at 5:00 PM. You can also see your fellow NYSMS members on most of which can be yours very reasonably. She is a marvelous resource YouTube at any time. and a super-great lady! Having heard from only a few of our members over the past year or so, Sandy wants to remind you that she’s still at it, adding The Singing Experience will be presenting its last workshop of the season, to her collection every day, and always willing to part with sheet music at Holiday Wishes, beginning November 6. Performance scheduled for especially fair prices for us. Sheet music was the reason we were founded December 11. Contact Linda for additional information at 212-315-3500 or thirty plus years ago, after all, and she’s only a phone call or e-mail away. [email protected] . Sandy continues to be willing to offer free appraisals with no expectation of having right of first refusal and can provide unbiased advice as to how and Midday Jazz Midtown continues Wednesdays (1:00 PM to 2:00 PM) at Saint where to sell music. It’s not a secret, pass it on please. Peter’s Church (East 54 Street (entrance) @ Lexington Ave), NYC, Hosted by Ronny Whyte. June 5, Minas Brazilian Jazz, Orlando Haddad – In November 2009, to celebrate the centennial of songwriter/singer Johnny guitar/singer, Patricia King – piano/singer; June 12, Dave Chamberlain’s Mercer, Minneapolis radio personalities David Cummings and Les Block Band of Bones; June 19, Peter & Will Anderson; June 26, Eddie Monteriro. produced and broadcast a 100th birthday tribute to Mr. Mercer. The show Suggested donation: $10. Parking: Icon Parking, East 51 St, between Third features original interviews with a distinguished roster of Mercer-connected and Lexington Ave. $15 including tax for five hours with validation@Saint performers and writers, showcasing recordings of Mercer songs sung by the Peter’s Reception Desk. www.ronnywhyte.com guests and presenting valuable comments on the songs and on the man. www.saintpeters.org/jazz/midtownjazz.htm . Among the more than twenty celebrities interviewed were Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Kay Starr, Nancy Wilson, Robert Kimball, Carol Shedlin, a 2018 MAC Hanson Award winner, is bringing back by Barry Manilow and Margaret Whiting. Sadly, our interview with Miss Whiting popular demand Skylarking – The Songs of Hoagy Carmichael on Tuesday, was her last. The show is being archived by the Library of Congress which June 11 & Wednesday, June 19, both shows @ 7:00 PM, at Don’t Tell Mama, acknowledged that “…it would be impossible to produce a work of this quality 343 West 46 th Street, with Jon Delfin – Music Director, Boots Maleson – on Johnny Mercer today.” The entire show can be heard online at the bass, and Linda Amiel Burns – Director. Music Charge: $12 + 2 drink following URL/web address: https://archive.org/details/mercer100/ksav- minimum - cash only. Music Charge $10 for TSE, MAC, APSS, SAG/AFTRA. mercer-1.mp3 OR
JUNE 15 RICHARD SKIPPER CELEBRATES MEREDITH WILLSON on the anniversary of Meredith Willson's passing (June 15, 1984...34 years ago), Richard Skipper Celebrates The Legacy of Meredith Willson. Of course, there will be stories and songs from Here's Love , The Unsinkable Molly Brown , and, of course, The Music Man which will be returning to Broadway next year. Richard will be joined by Jim Brochu, Charles Karel (who was in the original Music Man), Ann Kittredge, Nathan Robert Pecchia, and a few surprises! Save the Did you know every issue of this newsletter date! is in COLOR online at www.APSSinc.org
Songwriters... 2018 - 19 Season Continued from page 3 October 13, 2018 Alex Leonard presents Harry Warren November 10, 2018 Alan Jay Lerner with Amy Asch, KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler December 8, 2018 Celebrating Frank Sinatra on his birthday with clips and songs January 12, 2019 L-R : Kaleigh Cronin, James T. Kelly, Sara Zahn & Allan Kashkin The Anderson Twins February 9, 2019 Barbara Cook show by Shana Farr March 9, 2019 Ron Fassler: Up In The Cheap Seats April 20, 2019 <••DATE CHANGE Celebrating Jazz Month and the Nat King Cole centenary May 11, 2019 Songwriter Showcase Claire Ortúzar, Andrea Prestinario & Ron Abel. June 15, 2019 <••DATE CHANGE group shot top l-r: Preston Ridge, Richie Ridge. middle: Mark William, James T. Kelly. Bottom: Kaleigh Cronin, Clint Edwards. Richard Skipper Celebrates Meredith Willson