The Great American Songbook

What is a Songbook?

A songbook is a book with a collection of great song lyrics and music. In today's increasingly automated world, formats change but humans are the sole creators. What once featured sheet music with lyrics, now might feature illustrations, lyrics and musical notes. Regardless of the format, the songbook remains a portal from the past to the future.

The Great American Songbook

The Great American Songbook is perhaps the most popular example of a songbook. Its impact on American culture is without equal. The list of notable composers and lyricists associated with the songbook include Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart. Titans of Jazz, Pop and Broadway musicals of the day contributed their work within the Great American Songbook, such as "Summertime," "Fly Me to the Moon," and “My Funny Valentine”.

Iconic singers and jazz musicians who have contributed to the popularity of the songbook include Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, and Tony Bennett. Contemporary artists who have incorporated the songbook into their repertoire, include Diana Krall, Rod Stewart, and Paul McCartney

The Great American Songbook Foundation and The Songbook Academy

The Great American Songbook Foundation, founded by Michael Feinstein, is dedicated to preserving the songbook legacy. Their belief is that “songs make history and history make songs”. Its mission to preserve, promote, and celebrate the songbook and its performers. This ensures a future rich with great songs.

The Songbook Academy, an educational program established by the Great American Songbook Foundation, emphasizes on its goal to educate and nurture young talents in the performance of American popular song, Notable participants include Lady Gaga and Michael Bublé.

Influence on American Culture

The Great American Songbook has had a significant impression on American popular music and culture. From the theaters of Broadway to its influence in Hollywood musicals, its role in shaping the music of the golden age of cinema is unparalleled. The Great American Song that we know today sprung from the lyric soil of Tin Pin Alley in New York's West 28th Street to the jazz standards of the 1920's to the 1960's and ultimately evolving into rock, hip hop and pop. Its enduring presence is felt in the performing arts, including Broadway shows and live performances

The lasting legacy of the Great American Songbook is understated and in some ways forgotten. As the United States deals with its own set of unique challenges, relics that resemble a simpler time will provide hope, inspiration and confidence to the new composer of future American songbooks.

Check out our post on self-publishing a modern Songbook here and get the latest American Songbook here.