From Washington Square Park and the Gaslight Caf? to WNYC Radio and Folkways Records; New York Citys cultural; artistic; and commercial assets helped to shape a distinctively urban breeding ground for the folk music revival of the 1950s and 60s. Folk City explores New Yorks central role in fueling the nationwide craze for folk music in postwar America. It involves the efforts of record company producers and executives; club owners; concert promoters; festival organizers; musicologists; agents and managers; editors and writers - and; of course; musicians and audiences.In Folk City; authors Stephen Petrus and Ron Cohen capture the exuberance of the times and introduce readers to a host of characters who brought a new style to the biggest audience in the history of popular music. Among the savvy New York entrepreneurs committed to promoting folk music were Izzy Young of the Folklore Center; Mike Porco of Gerdes Folk City; and John Hammond of Columbia Records. While these and other businessmen developed commercial networks for musicians; the performance venues provided the artists space to test their mettle. The authors portray Village coffee houses not simply as lively venues but as incubators of a burgeoning counterculture; where artists from diverse backgrounds honed their performance techniques and challenged social conventions. Accessible and engaging; fresh and provocative; rich in anecdotes and primary sources; Folk City is lavishly illustrated with images collected for the accompanying major exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York in 2015.
#4332812 in eBooks 2015-03-16 2015-03-17File Name: B00UTK50PG
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. From the Depths of the Coal MinesBy Larry RochelleTommy Dorsey had a very strong dad who wanted his kids to avoid working in the depths of the coal mines in eastern Pennsylvania. Peter Levinson explains how the Dorseys father taught them music; insisted on music careers; and drove Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey to the top of the big band charts in the 1930s and 1940s.Of course; along the way there was a different kind of chaos in their music careers. The Dorseys; huge rivals; argued incessantly; stopped being friends and referred to each other as "The Brother." For 30 years; their careers dovetailed with Tommy being the young but more aggressive bother and Jimmy being the older but softer kid.Most band members thought they learned more with Tommy; but they also thought Jimmy was the nicer guy. Tommy Dorsey molded his bands toward perfection; and he also helped in a cantankerous way to mold his musicians; often firing them for no reason; and then hiring them back the next day. Tommy demanded excellence and got it.While reading; I listened to the CDs by both of the brothers and the magic of their playing made reading this biography even more enjoyable. Put on some Dorsey big band music and enjoy the sentimental sounds of great music history.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Swings man of swagger...By CustomerI bought this book after reading the authors biography of Harry James; and enjoyed it almost as much. The format is the same: a chronological story of Dorsey; beginning with his childhood in the coal country through to his early death as a big band icon. The book is long on detail; providing extensive information on Dorseys musical career: the lead to and then success of the "Tommy Dorsey Band"; including rosters of musicians (which were changing constantly) singers; writers and arrangers; etc; also; concert dates; recording sessions; radio shows; cross-country tours; movie appearances and finally the TV shows promoted by Jackie Gleason. It is all diligently chronicled. Dorseys personal life (three wives); and contentious relationship with "the Brother" is given almost equal attention.Of course; Dorsey was known as much for his charismatic and mercurial personality as he was for his musical talents and influence on the big-band era; and this is really what makes the book so interesting.The anecdotes and "color come through first-hand accounts by people who interacted directly with Dorsey professionally; personally; or both.( Dorseys last wife was even interviewed ). The author was lucky to finish the book when he did as many of those people giving the first-hand accoutns have passed on ( including the author himself). It is these commentaries on the "bigger than life" Dorsey that make the story so compelling. Future histories of this era in American entertainment will never be able to capture this aspect of the story as the eyewitnesses and players are now almost all gone.If there is any quibble with the book it would be with the ending which is a little too sentimental(ironic for the sentimental gentleman?); and almost maudlin in regards to Dorseys death and legacy. Otherwise; I think this is a book for fans and historians alike of the swing era; and American entertainment in general. 4 1/2 stars1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A must buy; if you love big bands or a fan of the American songbook.By pa joeLoved the book! Saw an old interview with the author on PCN - Pennsylvania Cable Network. That got me interested in the book.The interview is available through PCN by the way.So much information in the book. Tommy was a complex man. A great bandleader. He had so many different musicians in his orchestra. I believe he fired Sinatra twice. He would fire and rehire.Tommy aged quickly. He died at the age of 51; but looked more than ten years older than that.The book does give information on the brother; Jimmy. Jimmy died before he was 55 also. Jim is buried in Shenandoah Pa. - Tommy is buried in New York State.Great book! If you have any interest big bands and their music; do get this book. You will enjoy it.
