Feinstein sings gershwin is michael feinsteins third record of george and ira gershwin tunes, and like its predecessors, its a joyous, irresistible album illustrating that not only is feinsteins knowledge of gershwin deep, but also that he knows how to keep the music alive with fresh, vibrant performances and arrangements. The author has hit upon a happy way to organize this dual biography. In 1976, the 80yearold ira gershwin and his wife, leonore, invited michael feinstein, a 20yearold singerpianist, to their house in beverly hills and hired him to catalogue their music collection. Feinstein went on to a career championing the american popular song in concerts, in recordings, at at his own nightclub in new york city. During feinsteins years with gershwin, he also got to know gershwins nextdoor neighbor, singer rosemary. Michael feinstein shares memories of the gershwins youtube. In new book, michael feinstein shares his dream job with.
Michael feinstein has 31 books on goodreads with 673 ratings. Michael feinstein right worked for six years as ira gershwins cataloger and archivist. The gershwins and me, by michael feinstein with ian jackman. Website features news, tour, bio, multimedia, and contact information. Now, in the gershwins and me, the only book of its kind, michael feinstein. Michael feinstein, author of the gershwins and me the musician and educator spent six years as ira gershwins cataloger and archivist. From strike up the band to love is here to stay, each of the twelve chapters highlights one of the gershwins classic songs, exploring the brothers lives, illuminating what the music meant to them, and telling the stories of how.
It celebrates his history with brothers ira and george gershwin and their music the multiplatinumselling, twotime emmy and fivetime grammy awardnominated artist exhibits an extraordinary passion for his. He was one of the greatest theatrical producers to ever live. In honor of the composers birthday michael feinstein is sharing some of his favorite performances of gershwins music. The appeal of the two artists is almost identical their arrangements lush and melodramatic, their performances wringing maximum. It was feinsteins third album of gershwins music, following pure gershwin 1987 and nice work if. Michael feinstein, celebrated as a singerpianist, a cabaret.
For those who love the classic tunes of the socalled american songbook and particularly the timeless melodies and lyrics of george and ira gershwin, michael feinsteins new book, the gershwins and me. Sadly, the liveliest cut features feinstein singing alongside a gershwinplayed piano roll with a cheesy dubbed mc introducing the music legend, as if the pair were. Books by michael feinstein author of the gershwins and me. On one level, the book is a history of the gershwins, woven in with feinsteins personal story, informed by his friendship with ira gershwin and his work cataloguing the materials that ira had saved over the years. Now, in the gershwins and me, the only book of its kind, michael feinstein shares unforgettable stories and reminiscences from the music that defined american popular song, along with rare gershwin memorabilia hes collected through the years. The gershwins and me, the eclectic program sampled not just george and ira gershwins artistry but also that of certain broadway and. The book fittingly contains a cd of feinstein performing 12 gershwin tunes. Michael feinsteins american songbook is a dynamic, documentarystyle road trip and cultural primer, with michael feinstein as the leader of an expedition through the glorious history of american popular song. Michael feinsteins american songbook michaels archive.
The gershwins and me by michael feinstein with ian. The pbs series michael feinsteins american songbook. Breezily filling the book with stories about the creation of gershwin classics, feinstein also masterfully takes readers on side trips into the writing processes of. Feinstein blossomed under gershwins mentorship and gershwin was reinvigorated by the younger mans zeal for his and his brother georges legacy. Michael feinstein on life with ira gershwin, performing. Birthday legend hal prince 19282019 today would have been my friend, hal princes, 92nd birthday.
Musician michael feinstein chronicles his experience working as an archivist and cataloger for legendary songwriter ira gershwin. Since yesterdays video skewed towards the country side i figured we would keep it going today. Michael feinsteins american songbook the pbs series. Michael was born and raised in columbus, ohio, where he started playing piano by.
From celebrated entertainer michael feinstein comes a beautifully illustrated. Michael feinsteins american songbook starts viewers on a multiepisode journey through the glorious history of 20th century popular music. Michael feinstein patsy cline shes got you facebook. From celebrated entertainer michael feinstein comes a beautifully illustrated account of the lives and legacies of the gershwinstold through stories of twelve of their greatest songs and accompanied by an original cd of those songs, performed by the author. Follow feinstein on stage as he performs familiar standards and littleknown gems.
The gershwins and me, by michael feinstein with ian. Michael feinsteins definitive george gershwin new standards. He went to hollywood as a young guy from columbus, oh, and was soon introduced to ira gershwin, georges brother. This special enhanced ebook includes twelve gershwin classics performed by michael feinstein and commentary from the author on the music and the lives of george and ira gershwin. He discovered the music of george and ira gershwin and began collecting. The year before, rhinoelektra music released the michael feinstein anthology, a twodisc compilation spanning 1987 to 1996 and featuring old favorites and previouslyunreleased tracks. My life in rhythm and rhyme, 1995 begins with a swift account of how he met ira gershwin, the lyricist of the celebrated duo, and how he subsequently went to work for him for six years, researching, identifying and cataloging gershwin materials. In the course of this delightful book, whose episodic and anecdotal nature make it easy to read, set aside and come back to frequently, feinstein assesses the works of both of the brothers gershwin. The man wears many hatspianist, singer, arranger, songwriter, author, conductor, educator, nightclub owner, archivist, and historian. A personal history in twelve songs is much more than heartfelt homage by an outsider or johnnycomelately to a remarkable musical era that is now closed. Michael feinsteins american songbook, as well as our accompanying website. He also has become an unparalleled interpreter of music legends such as irving berlin, jerome kern, johnny mercer, duke ellington and harry warren. Pure gershwin was michael feinsteins first album, and it remains one of his best. Michael feinsteins most popular book is the gershwins and me.
Feinstein is a true lover of gershwin, and an expert. Cultural history, intimate biography, and a frontrow seat to great live performances. Michael feinstein was once hired to catalogue the files of lyricist ira gershwin. Nook book enhanced ebook of the the gershwins and me enhanced edition. Known as the ambassador of the great american songbook, musician feinstein includes a 12track cd in this combination autobiography and biography of george. Michael feinsteins memoir, the gerswins and me, includes a cd of him playing 12 gershwin songs. His new book, the gershwins and me, is a tribute to the brothers who most. From celebrated entertainer michael feinstein comes a beautifu. Former assistant to ira gershwin, michael feinstein has been the keeper of the american. Now, in the gershwins and me, the only book of its kind, michael feinstein shares unforgettable stories and reminiscences from the music that defined.
Michael feinstein strikes up his own song of praise to george and ira gershwin with this tune. For aficionados of the great american songbook, michael feinstein needs no introduction. Feinstein became gershwins assistant for six years, which earned him access to numerous unpublished gershwin songs, many of which he has since performed and recorded. Michael feinstein brings gershwins to life in new book. Former assistant to ira gershwin, michael feinstein has been the keeper of the american songbook since the early 1980s.
The book is presented through the stories of 12 of the gershwin. The format for the book evolved from feinsteins imagination as he tried to determine what the book would be. This happened in the 1960s 70s, and ira became a mentor to feinstein, and encouraged his playing and arranging. On october 31, 2014, feinstein s michael feinstein at the rainbow room premiered on pbs, with guest stars. At its best, the gershwins and me will drive one to sustained gershwin listeningand, as ira once wrote, who could ask for anything more. The gershwins and me by michael feinstein, ian jackman. Michael feinstein sings gershwin venice gondolier sun. Feinstein sings gershwin is a 1998 album by american vocalist michael feinstein of songs composed by george gershwin. During their sixyear partnership, the two became close friends. During their sixyear partnership, feinstein blossomed under gershwins mentorship and gershwin was reinvigorated by the younger mans zeal. His love of george and ira gershwin and their music is apparent in practically every line of this handsome book.
Michael feinstein is the ambassador of american songbook. The gershwins and me by michael feinstein overdrive. Michael feinstein was born on september 7, 1956 in columbus, ohio, usa. With selections drawn from three releases dating back to 1987 and up to his 1996 gershwin collection, this anthology demonstrates not so much that feinstein is a great singer, but that he is a kind of barry manilow for people with long memories.
He hosts the public radio program song travels, and his pbs specials include michael feinsteins american songbook. Then peek behindthescenes into the surprises and challenges of life on the road. Michael feinstein on life with ira gershwin, performing the classics. Gershwins influence provided a solid base upon which feinstein evolved into a captivating performer, composer and arranger of his own original music. Vanity fairtalked to michael feinstein about his new book, the gershwins and me, the imminent closure of his eponymous nightclub at the. The great american songbook archive began when michael feinstein was a boy. Probably the books loudest visual is a fullpage, pink. Michael feinstein was just 20 years old when he got the chance of a lifetime. Feinsteins book, the gershwins and me, is a sort of tribute to his relationship with ira gershwin and the brothers music. Over the span of his career, he garnered 21 tony awards, more than any other individual, including eight for directing, eight for producing the years best. A personal history in twelve songs by michael feinstein. The gershwins and me ebook by michael feinstein official. Lacking the bounce found on his first collection of gershwin tunes pure gershwin, this album of ballads and show tunes is more soothing than danceready.
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