The Gershwins and Me
A Personal History in Twelve Songs
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- £9.99
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
From celebrated entertainer Michael Feinstein comes a beautifully illustrated account of the lives and legacies of the Gershwins—told through stories of twelve of their greatest songs.
The “Ambassador of the Great American Songbook” Michael Feinstein was just twenty years old when he got the chance of a lifetime: a job with his hero, Ira Gershwin. During their six-year partnership, the two became close friends. Feinstein blossomed under Gershwin’s mentorship and Gershwin was reinvigorated by the younger man’s zeal for his and his brother George’s legacy. 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 he’s collected through the years.
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 their iconic tunes came to life. Throughout the star-studded narrative, Feinstein unfolds the moving chronicle of his own life with the Gershwins, describing his vision for their enduring presence today. No other writer could give us such an authoritative inside perspective on these titans of American culture.
A timeless classic and the definitive account of the Gershwins and their legacy, The Gershwins and Me will having you humming with every turn of the page.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Known as the ambassador of the Great American Songbook, musician Feinstein includes a 12-track CD in this combination autobiography and biography of George and Ira Gershwin. At age 20, Feinstein was hired by Ira to catalogue the lyricist's archives, and the two became close friends over the next six years. Ira died in 1983, and two years later, Feinstein released his debut album, Pure Gershwin. Now he looks back over his "years of obsession," sharing artifacts from his collection of memorabilia, including personal photos, promotional stage shots, sheet music, correspondence, hand-written lyric fragments, and paintings by the Gershwins. Feinstein writes with wit, humor, and attitude, including fascinating bits of trivia and illuminating anecdotes. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and other composers are considered, too. With much space devoted to revisions made in lyrics and ways of interpreting songs, Feinstein deplores how modern productions have stripped these songs of their drama, as in the "travesty" biopic film De-Lovely. Combining text, images and audio into a unique single package, this is an impressive celebration of the Gershwins and their lasting legacy.
