[Dixielandjazz] "Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" Reviewed

[Robert Ringwald]

"Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" reviewed

Guide Is a Fun Reference Book on Crooners
"A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers." By Will Friedwald. 811
pages. $45.
by Chris Foran
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 31, 2010
When it comes to the Great American Songbook, Will Friedwald is the keeper of the
flame.
He's written some of the best books on popular song of the past quarter-century,
from his engaging "Jazz Singing" to "Stardust Memories," a collection of "biographies"
of 12 great standards. And his "Sinatra! The Song Is You" is one of the best studies
of a singer's craft ever written.
With "A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers," Friedwald gave himself
a daunting task: put together essays on every singer he can who made a career singing
those great songs.
"Every" is a lot, but Friedwald doesn't miss too many (the omissions he mentions
in the intro are waaay down the pop-culture depth chart), from the early 20th century
to the cabaret singers of the post-swing revival.
The essays -- more than 200 in all, including pieces on multiple artists -- are part
biography, part career overview, focusing on the singers' highs and lows while tossing
in bits of fun trivia. (Personal favorite tidbit: Jazz stylist Blossom Dearie may
be better known for her vocals on "Schoolhouse Rock" -- that's her singing about
the number 8 -- than for her influential albums from the late 1950s.)
This isn't an introductory book on the subject by any means. If you don't know Richard
Rodgers from Aaron Rodgers, this ain't for you. That it lacks photos, even head shots
of the artists, doesn't help.
But if you sometimes find yourself tuning into a crooners channel on satellite radio,
or just wish they did write 'em like that anymore, this is a fun reference book to
dive into, get lost in -- and use to add more songs and singers to your collection.


--Bob Ringwald
www.ringwald.com
Fulton Street Jazz Band
530/ 642-9551 Office
916/ 806-9551 Cell
Amateur (Ham) Radio K6YBV

There are two rules for success:
1.  Don't tell all you know.