The April 21st well attended “The Great American Jewish Songbook” presentation by Jordan Klapman and ensemble treated the audience to a tour of Jewish contributions to popular music. The ‘edu-taining’ tour was guided by Klapman who narrated the chronological progression while Sharon Smith (vocals), Henry Heillig (bass), and Glenn Anderson (drums) provided the music along with Jordan on the piano.
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| Jordan Klapman | Sharon Smith | Henry Heillig | Glenn Anderson |
The tour started with the innocuous sounding: “After the Ball” written by Charles K. Harris. It was the first song to sell over a million copies of sheet music and was translated world wide. From the royalties Chas. K. Harris set up a music publishing company which became the cornerstone of Tin Pan Alley.
Klapman narrated: “Writing music was one of the few non mercantile professions open to Jewish immigrants.”
1893 Recording of “After the Ball” – Chas. K Harris
Soon we arrived at Alexander’s Ragtime Band written by Irving Berlin, born Israel Baline, who rose from humble beginnings watching his family home burn to the ground in a pogrom at age 11, to writing “God Bless America” which is to this day, America’s official National Song. Berlin’s contributions to the artform are undeniable with 1,500 songs to his name.
Alexander’s Ragtime Band – I. Berlin (Andrew’s Sisters)
God Bless America – I. Berlin (I. Berlin)
The tour arced through the contributions of Kern, the Gershwin’s, Harold Arlen making it’s final stop with Stephen Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns. The centerpiece of the programme was the evolution and cross pollination that occurred bringing “Bei Mir Bistu Shein” to the fore. Written by Shalom Secunda and lyricist Jacob Jacobs, the piece was originally a hit in the Yiddish Theatre. Johnnie and George, two African American performers learned the song phonetically and sang it at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. In the audience one night was awe struck lyricist Sammy Cahn who, after furnishing it with English lyrics, presented it to the Greek (Lutheran) Andrews Sisters. The song launched their career went on to be one of the greatest hits of all time.
Bei Mir Bist Du Shein – S. Secunda (Andrew’s Sisters)
The volume of works created by immigrants caught between worlds went on to be cornerstones in the music of the new world. America owes a great debt to it’s early Jewish immigrants, as great a debt as they owe for the freedom of expression and opportunity America afforded them.
