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A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers
Will Friedwald’s illuminating, opinionated essays—provocative, funny, and personal—on the lives and careers of more than three hundred singers anatomize the work of the most important jazz and popular performers of the twentieth century. From giants like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland to lesser-known artists like Jeri Southern and Joe Mooney, they have created a body of work that continues to please and inspire. Here is the most extensive biographical and critical survey of these singers ever written, as well as an essential guide to the Great American Songbook and those who shaped the way it has been sung.
The music crosses from jazz to pop and back again, from the songs of Irving Berlin and W. C. Handy through Stephen Sondheim and beyond, bringing together straightforward jazz and pop singers (Billie Holiday, Perry Como); hybrid artists who moved among genres and combined them (Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé); the leading men and women of Broadway and Hollywood (Ethel Merman, Al Jolson); yesterday’s vaudeville and radio stars (Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor); and today’s cabaret artists and hit-makers (Diana Krall, Michael Bublé). Friedwald has also written extended pieces on the most representative artists of five significant genres that lie outside the Bessie Smith (blues), Mahalia Jackson (gospel), Hank Williams (country and western), Elvis Presley (rock ’n’ roll), and Bob Dylan (folk-rock).
Friedwald reconsiders the personal stories and professional successes and failures of all these artists, their songs, and their performances, appraising both the singers and their music by balancing his opinions with those of fellow musicians, listeners, and critics.
This magisterial reference book—ten years in the making—will delight and inform anyone with a passion for the iconic music of America, which continues to resonate throughout our popular culture.
The music crosses from jazz to pop and back again, from the songs of Irving Berlin and W. C. Handy through Stephen Sondheim and beyond, bringing together straightforward jazz and pop singers (Billie Holiday, Perry Como); hybrid artists who moved among genres and combined them (Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé); the leading men and women of Broadway and Hollywood (Ethel Merman, Al Jolson); yesterday’s vaudeville and radio stars (Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor); and today’s cabaret artists and hit-makers (Diana Krall, Michael Bublé). Friedwald has also written extended pieces on the most representative artists of five significant genres that lie outside the Bessie Smith (blues), Mahalia Jackson (gospel), Hank Williams (country and western), Elvis Presley (rock ’n’ roll), and Bob Dylan (folk-rock).
Friedwald reconsiders the personal stories and professional successes and failures of all these artists, their songs, and their performances, appraising both the singers and their music by balancing his opinions with those of fellow musicians, listeners, and critics.
This magisterial reference book—ten years in the making—will delight and inform anyone with a passion for the iconic music of America, which continues to resonate throughout our popular culture.
832 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2013
Whew! I’m finally done with the reading of this book, but the collateral listening has just begun.
This “guide” is more like an encyclopedia of modern American music. Well, most of it is organized like an encyclopedia, with articles about individual singers arranged alphabetically, followed by lengthier articles about groups of other singers of interest. But as for content, the individual articles read more like reviews.
As with reading any reference book so organized, interesting facts are encountered in each article, but the details and names start to blend together after a few. But thanks to Spotify I was able to enjoy songs by each artist as I read about them, and finding about 95% of the songs mentioned in Spotify’s collection, I’ve generated a playlist of about 4,800 songs to enjoy in future days.
The author, Will Friedwald, is a well known jazz and cabaret critic and has written eight books on jazz and popular music. Listening to his descriptions while simultaneously listening to the music he described, I soon learned that his perceptions were accurate to my taste. Not only did he turn me on to some exciting discoveries, but his opinions also helped me to understand why I enjoyed some voices or performances much more than others. (I now understand why I never really enjoyed Barbra Streisand, even though I’ve always heard her objectively as a great singer.)
By the time I finished this book, I felt that I had taken a long course on the history of American modern music. The book ended with longer articles on Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bessie Smith, and Hank Williams. Perhaps it was not the author’s intent, but these last articles seemed to serve as perfect landmarks to define the musical landscape in which all the other musicians are found.
I can’t imagine that there is anyone more knowledgeable about this topic than Will Friedwald.
This “guide” is more like an encyclopedia of modern American music. Well, most of it is organized like an encyclopedia, with articles about individual singers arranged alphabetically, followed by lengthier articles about groups of other singers of interest. But as for content, the individual articles read more like reviews.
As with reading any reference book so organized, interesting facts are encountered in each article, but the details and names start to blend together after a few. But thanks to Spotify I was able to enjoy songs by each artist as I read about them, and finding about 95% of the songs mentioned in Spotify’s collection, I’ve generated a playlist of about 4,800 songs to enjoy in future days.
The author, Will Friedwald, is a well known jazz and cabaret critic and has written eight books on jazz and popular music. Listening to his descriptions while simultaneously listening to the music he described, I soon learned that his perceptions were accurate to my taste. Not only did he turn me on to some exciting discoveries, but his opinions also helped me to understand why I enjoyed some voices or performances much more than others. (I now understand why I never really enjoyed Barbra Streisand, even though I’ve always heard her objectively as a great singer.)
By the time I finished this book, I felt that I had taken a long course on the history of American modern music. The book ended with longer articles on Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bessie Smith, and Hank Williams. Perhaps it was not the author’s intent, but these last articles seemed to serve as perfect landmarks to define the musical landscape in which all the other musicians are found.
I can’t imagine that there is anyone more knowledgeable about this topic than Will Friedwald.
April 29, 2011
This is a huge collection (over 800 double-columned pages) of opinionated, thought-provoking essays about jazz singers and pop singers who have sung the Great American Songbook. I've had fun reading the essays while watching YouTube videos of each performer. I had read and enjoyed his earlier book on Sinatra, but I was surprised by many of the insights music writer Will Friedwald offers in this book. For instance, I wouldn't have guessed that he has come to appreciate the talents of Elvis Presley and feels that he was one of the greatest crooners and had the potential be the greatest interpreter of classic country and blues songs. I just wish that the book's font weren't so small and that it included photos.
April 13, 2020
If there is ever a literary Mount Rushmore, with writers who covered popular music of the 20th century, Will Friedwald is there right next to Garry Giddins, Peter Guralnick and few others. While the rest of the gentlemen might be better storytellers, Friedwald will always be my favourite, as his writing voice makes him by far the ultimate music geek, someone who lives for discussion about old records and is ready to fight if you dare to disagree that this arrangements of "Stardust" is better than the other. Recognising the kindred spirit somewhere out there on the other side of the world, I embrace Friedwald as my brother in spirit and love his writing - in fact, I poured over his "Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith To Bebop And Beyond" more than anything else I have read in my entire life.
"A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" is actually two books in one: the majority of the book is a music encyclopaedia that more or less covers the same artists previously discussed in "Jazz Singing" with addition of several names that Friedwald dismissed the first time around. Not sure is he mellowing with the age or what, but now he actually finds something positive to say about the very same people who he killed back in the first book. Divided between "individual artists" (part one) and "multiple artists" (part two) the book actually picks up in the second part - just like in Jazz Singing" , Friedwald's strength seems to be in discussing and comparing multiple artists, rather than going on forever about one person and his complete discography. Personally, I was kind of bored in the first part but delighted with second part of the book, where author catches the old fire again and is humorous, witty, funny and delightful as before. Where else will you find all these mad anecdotes (Andy Williams dubbing for Lauren Bacall?) and the author clearly loves his work, when Friedwald is on fire, its contagious.
Yeah, he can be predictable - but if you read him before, you know what to expect: he loves everything recorded before Rock music came along and VERY grudgingly will tolerate any "outsiders" or "intruders" who dare to touch American Songbook. Commercial success be damned, Friedwald is a music critic and way above these pedestrian concerns - astutely, he understands that "hits" are not necessarily artist's best work and discusses this contrast. I also found out that in the very beginning of recording business, music stars were unwilling to record because radio was mainly "live" medium and artists were supposed to perform live (today we find recordings absolutely necessary to promote music). The book is absolutely a treasure trove of fascinating insights, discussions and Friedwald's observations that sometimes charmingly stray from the subject. This time I didn't find it as essential as "Jazz Singing" but for the sheer volume, ambition and greatness, its very close to it.
"A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" is actually two books in one: the majority of the book is a music encyclopaedia that more or less covers the same artists previously discussed in "Jazz Singing" with addition of several names that Friedwald dismissed the first time around. Not sure is he mellowing with the age or what, but now he actually finds something positive to say about the very same people who he killed back in the first book. Divided between "individual artists" (part one) and "multiple artists" (part two) the book actually picks up in the second part - just like in Jazz Singing" , Friedwald's strength seems to be in discussing and comparing multiple artists, rather than going on forever about one person and his complete discography. Personally, I was kind of bored in the first part but delighted with second part of the book, where author catches the old fire again and is humorous, witty, funny and delightful as before. Where else will you find all these mad anecdotes (Andy Williams dubbing for Lauren Bacall?) and the author clearly loves his work, when Friedwald is on fire, its contagious.
Yeah, he can be predictable - but if you read him before, you know what to expect: he loves everything recorded before Rock music came along and VERY grudgingly will tolerate any "outsiders" or "intruders" who dare to touch American Songbook. Commercial success be damned, Friedwald is a music critic and way above these pedestrian concerns - astutely, he understands that "hits" are not necessarily artist's best work and discusses this contrast. I also found out that in the very beginning of recording business, music stars were unwilling to record because radio was mainly "live" medium and artists were supposed to perform live (today we find recordings absolutely necessary to promote music). The book is absolutely a treasure trove of fascinating insights, discussions and Friedwald's observations that sometimes charmingly stray from the subject. This time I didn't find it as essential as "Jazz Singing" but for the sheer volume, ambition and greatness, its very close to it.
July 18, 2023
Must read if you're a fan of Jazz, Traditional Pop, Swing-Big Band, Classic Cinema, Theatre and Musical, and The Great American Songbook
Absolutely enjoyed this book. This particular publication will undoubtedly surpass the rough passage of time and soon will be the canonical reference when people learn more about Jazz singers before the Rock and Roll era. I love how the author included Barbra Streisand- she is possibly the youngest, living artist from the Songbook era but shes definitely among the ranks of Ella, Frank, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr. as far as talent, Influence, artistry, and materials go, despite emerging during the age of Rock. Through this book I also learned more not only about discovering artists that I didn't know yet, but also about the personal lives of the artists and deep cuts from their catalogues. Thoroughly enjoyed as well the author's personal anecdotes about the artists. Lucky to have personally met a lot of them! 5/5
Absolutely enjoyed this book. This particular publication will undoubtedly surpass the rough passage of time and soon will be the canonical reference when people learn more about Jazz singers before the Rock and Roll era. I love how the author included Barbra Streisand- she is possibly the youngest, living artist from the Songbook era but shes definitely among the ranks of Ella, Frank, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr. as far as talent, Influence, artistry, and materials go, despite emerging during the age of Rock. Through this book I also learned more not only about discovering artists that I didn't know yet, but also about the personal lives of the artists and deep cuts from their catalogues. Thoroughly enjoyed as well the author's personal anecdotes about the artists. Lucky to have personally met a lot of them! 5/5
February 9, 2016
One of the greatest books ever about music and singing.
March 1, 2017
Exhaustive book of every notable jazz and great American songbook singers. Goldmine of facts.
January 4, 2011
Entertaining and a lead to a lot of great music.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews