American Songbook

The great American songbook is a collection of American songs composed by the most prominent and famous musical writers who produced songs and musicals between 1920 and 1950. Some of these songs are some of the most recognised songs of all time and have been covered by famous singers of today allowing the American Songbook era to continue and stay recognised. These songs are particularly used in Musical Theatre/ Broadway and the Hollywood film industry.

In a study by Alec Wilder he has particular emphasis on the following writers: Jerome Kern, Ivring Berlin, George Gershwin, Richard Rogers, Cole Porter and Harold Arlen. These people collectively have written some of the most popular and well-known songs of all time.

Other artists included in the American Songbook era are: Walter Donaldson, Sammy Fain, Ira Gershwin, Jimmy Mchugh, Lionel Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Jule Styne and Vincent Youmas to name a few.

Some of the artists who have since covered songs are: Rongo Star, Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, Willie Nelson, Robbie Williams, Barry Manilow, Queen Latifah, Sting, Sir Paul McCartney and many more.

There are many interesting stories about these composers and their lives, for example. Jerome Kern wrote Showboat which was one of the first musical productions to include stories of racism and was the first musical which included a song that was specifically wrote for a black baritone actor. His songs often included his political views and talked about the society that he knew (coming from a high class background).

The style of this music can cover many moods, tempos and styles. Some writers have more distinct styles whereas other are more varied. Many of the songs are set out in a thirty two bar form. A lot of songs from this period were written for musicals or films but soon after the composition of these songs they were made into stand-alone songs where famous artists made famous songs even more famous and timeless.

Some of the most famous musicals that are included in the American Songbook era are:

Top Hat

King and I

Sound of Music

South Pacific

Kiss Me Kate

Crazy For You

Cinderella

State Fair

American in Paris

Annie Get Your Gun