The American Composer Series is an ongoing performance series in the

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

revue format, paying tribute to the greatest composers of popular American music on the American scene, particularly those composers associated with

Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of History of music publishing, music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the American popular music, popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally ...

.
About the American Composer Series Launched by musical director

Earl Wentz Earl Wentz (March 22, 1938 – November 15, 2009) was an American pianist, composer, and musical director most noted for his creation in 2000 of the American Composer Series, an ongoing performance series in the cabaret format. Early years ...

in 2000 with a tribute to

Ray Henderson Ray Henderson (born Raymond Brost; December 1, 1896 – December 31, 1970) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Buffalo, New York, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley. He was one-third of ...

(composer of mega-hits “ Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” “

Bye Bye Blackbird "Bye Bye Blackbird" is a song published in 1926 by Jerome H. Remick and written by composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra in March 1926. Song i ...

,” “

Button Up Your Overcoat "Button Up Your Overcoat" is a popular song. The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The song was published in 1928, and was first performed later that same year by vocalist Ruth Etting. However, the mo ...

,” “

The Birth of the Blues "The Birth of the Blues" is a popular 1926 song composed by Ray Henderson, with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. It was used in the Broadway revue ''George White's Scandals of 1926''. It was recorded in its debut year by Paul Whiteman (with ...

” and others) titled ''It’s the Cherries'', the series has continued to add new shows to its repertoire at the rate of one or two per year. As of 2009, the American Composer Series had created some 15 original revue tributes, many of them returning for multiple runs over the years.

American Composers and Shows in the Series

Each production in the series focuses on the work of one individual composer, working either alone or with a lyricist (or lyricists) by creating songs for the stage, screen, radio, or television. Composers saluted in the series so far include

Milton Ager Milton Ager (October 6, 1893 – May 6, 1979) was an American composer, regarded as one of the top songwriters of the 1920s and 1930s. His most lasting compositions include " Ain't She Sweet” and “Happy Days Are Here Again”. Biography Ag ...

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ' ...

Nacio Herb Brown Ignacio Herbert "Nacio Herb" Brown (February 22, 1896 – September 28, 1964) was an American composer of popular songs, movie scores and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s. Amongst his most enduring work is the sc ...

Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor, author and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s and 1940s, a ...

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatr ...

Victor Herbert Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was an American composer, Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor of English and Irish ancestry and German training. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and co ...

James V. Monaco James Vincent Monaco (January 13, 1885 – October 16, 1945) was an Italian-born American composer of popular music. Life and career Monaco was born in Formia, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and he grew u ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers wa ...

(who required three separate shows to include his vast catalogue),

Jule Styne Jule Styne ( ; born Julius Kerwin Stein; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer widely known for a series of Broadway theatre, Broadway musical theatre, musicals, including several famous frequ ...

, and

Harry Warren Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; December 24, 1893 – September 22, 1981) was an American composer and the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ...

. Productions presented in the American Composer Series as of 2008 include: * ''As Long As There’s Music'' (

) - 2000 * ''The Darktown Strutters' Ball'' (Shelton Brooks, Maceo Pinkard, Spencer Williams) - 2009 * ''It’s the Cherries'' (

) – 2000, 2001 * ''Jubilee'' (

) – 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 * ''Love Is Where You Find It'' (Nacio Herb Brown) – 2002 * ''Ragtime Jimmie'' (

) – 2005 * ''Rodgers Without the H Factor'' (

without

Oscar Hammerstein Oscar Hammerstein may refer to: *Oscar Hammerstein I (1846–1919), cigar manufacturer, opera impresario and theatre builder *Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an ...

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include "Blue Moon"; " The Lady Is a Tramp"; "Manhattan"; " Bewitched, Bo ...

) – 2002 * ''Serenade'' (

) – 2001 * ''Something Wonderful'' (Richard Rodgers with Oscar Hammerstein) – 2002 * ''Sweet Mystery'' (

) – 2005 * ''That Certain Smile'' (

) – 2007 * ''Vampin’ Lady'' (

) – 2007, 2008 * ''With A Song in My Heart'' (Richard Rodgers with Lorenz Hart) – 2002 * ''Wizard'' (presented as part of the centennial celebration of

) – 2004, 2005 In 2006, the producers of the series broke the format somewhat for two performances to pay tribute to the series’ founder, Earl Wentz, in “An American Composer Series Special Event.” The American Composer Series

Critical response

The series has received recognition especially for bringing to light forgotten treasures from the

American Songbook The Great American Songbook is the loosely defined canon of significant 20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes. Definition According to the Great American Songbook Foundation: The "Great American Songbook" is the c ...

and combining these with more recognizable old standards.

Latest Developments

Playing primarily in New York City, the American Composer Series has recently begun to branch out to other performance locations. In 2007, it premiered ''Vampin’ Lady: The Music of Milton Ager'' in

New Hope, Pennsylvania New Hope is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,612 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. New Hope is located approximately north of Philadelphia, and lies on the west b ...

and announced plans to tour the production beginning in September, 2008, in association with Sixpence, Inc., producers of the ''Vampin’ Lady'' CD, featuring vocalist Joyce Moody with musical director Earl Wentz.The ''Vampin’ Lady'' Fall Tour
/ref> Currently in development is a tribute to composer

Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, J ...

, presently named ''On the Sunny Side'' from McHugh's 1930 song

On the Sunny Side of the Street "On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Some authors say that Fats Waller was the composer, but he sold the rights to the song. It was introduced in the Broadway musical '' Lew Lesli ...

References

External links

The American Composer Series
Cabaret Revues 2000 musicals