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Great American Songbook Foundation

@songbookfoundation

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Our mission is to inspire and educate by celebrating the Great American Songbook. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.

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Today we celebrate the birthday of Dame Angela Lansbury, an acclaimed actress and singer whose remarkable career spanned eight decades across film, television and the stage.

Lansbury earned her first Tony Award for her iconic performance in the Broadway musical “Mame,” with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. In honor of her birthday, we’re sharing a New York City subway poster for the original production, preserved in the Jerry Herman Poster Collection at the Songbook Library & Archives.

“Mame” opened on Broadway on May 24, 1966, and its title role became one of the defining performances of Lansbury’s celebrated career. This poster was one of three framed and displayed in Herman’s office, offering a personal connection to the musical’s history.

Join us in remembering Angela Lansbury! by @songbookfoundation

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You can learn a lot from the music of the Great American Songbook, even a few lessons about the human body! In honor of World Anatomy Day, we’re exploring classic songs that put the human body in the spotlight and sharing a few reminders to take care of ourselves along the way.

👀 “I Only Have Eyes for You” ... but if you’re seeing double, it might be time for an eye exam!

💃 “Cheek to Cheek” ... just remember, dancing is great exercise, but watch your step and be sure to stretch before you start!

🧠 “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” ... catchy song, serious injury. Protect your head by wearing a helmet!

❤️ “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” ... if your heart is doing more than skipping a beat, it might be time to call a cardiologist!

Whether you’re celebrating World Anatomy Day or looking for a creative way to bring a lesson to life, the Songbook has something to teach us all! by @songbookfoundation

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Throughout Archives Month, we’re highlighting not only the remarkable collections preserved at the Songbook Library & Archives, but also the generous donors who help make our preservation work possible.

Today, we’re spotlighting Russ Lorenson, whose lifelong connection to the Great American Songbook has inspired him to support its preservation for future generations.

“The Great American Songbook has been the soundtrack of my life,” Russ shares. “Supporting the Foundation feels like a natural extension of that relationship.”

“By preserving where the Songbook has been, we give future generations the foundation to decide where it goes next.”

What excites him most about the work at the Songbook Library & Archives is “the thought that something sitting in the Archives today could become the spark for an artist, scholar or student fifty or a hundred years from now.”

We’re grateful to Russ and all our generous donors who help ensure the music and stories of the Great American Songbook remain accessible to inspire generations to come. by @songbookfoundation

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As we continue celebrating American Archives Month, we’re revisiting highlights from the Songbook Library & Archives!

Today, we’re looking back at a 2021 blog featuring Broadway and television actress Shirley Booth’s appearance on “The Andy Williams Show” in 1964. Booth made history as the first actress to win both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for the same role, William Inge’s “Come Back, Little Sheba.” (Broadway 1950, film version 1952)

Booth performed songs from the Broadway musicals “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” and “By the Beautiful Sea” during the 1964 episode. The Songbook Library & Archives preserves a collection of Andy Williams arrangements, including original music prepared for his television appearances and concerts. Among them are arrangements from this very episode, offering a glimpse into the music behind the performance.

Explore the arrangements and revisit Booth’s wonderful performance in this archival spotlight: https://thesongbook.org/about/news-media/the-songbook-blog-items/archives-artifacts-shirley-booth-on-the-andy-williams-show/ by @songbookfoundation

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From legendary chart-toppers to heartfelt duets and everything in between, Dolly Parton’s songs have a way of connecting people of all ages through stories of love, resilience, home, and the simple joys of life. Her music spans generations, creating opportunities to share favorite songs, memories, and meaningful moments together.

This month’s Perfect Harmony® resources pay tribute to Dolly Parton with activities inspired by some of her iconic songs and enduring legacy.

Discover this month's resources at https://thesongbook.org/ph-resources by @songbookfoundation

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Today we celebrate the birthday of songwriter, composer and conductor Johnny Green!

Green wrote several songs that became jazz standards, including “Out of Nowhere” and “Body and Soul,” and earned five Academy Awards over the course of his film career. Among his accomplishments was adapting, orchestrating and conducting the music for the 1968 film “Oliver!,” based on the hit musical.

We’re proud to preserve Green’s Oscar for “Oliver!” in the Songbook Library & Archives, along with a letter he wrote to fellow composer and orchestrator Irwin Kostal congratulating him on his Academy Award. by @songbookfoundation

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As we continue American Archives Month, we have another great learning opportunity for you!

We hope you’ll tune in this Sunday morning as our Director of Library & Archives, Emily Rapoza, joins @bigskybroadwayradio to explore the rich history of the Great American Songbook and its deep connections to Broadway.

You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation exploring some of the many Broadway connections we’re proud to preserve in our collections at the Songbook Library & Archives!

https://butteamericaradio.org/stream/ by @songbookfoundation

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We’re hiring! 🎶

Join the Great American Songbook Foundation as our Songbook Academy Program Manager! This is our first role dedicated exclusively to supporting the Songbook Academy®, our premier educational program for high school vocalists.

This new position will support program logistics, student outreach, and alumni engagement year-round. We’re excited to grow our team and support our Songbook Academy students and alumni in new ways!

Learn more and apply: https://TheSongbook.org/SBAmanager

Know someone who would be a great fit? Share this opportunity! by @songbookfoundation

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Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our public tour of the Songbook Library & Archives!

We loved welcoming visitors behind the scenes to explore the collections, discover stories from the Great American Songbook and learn more about the work our team does to preserve and share this important history.

We’re grateful to everyone who cam out and brought their curiosity and questions! Stay tuned for more opportunities to experience the collections up close, including future public archives tours. by @songbookfoundation

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As we continue celebrating American Archives Month, we’re highlighting some of the fascinating collections preserved in the Songbook Library & Archives.

Today we are featuring our Collections Highlight spotlighting Steve Madrick.

Though his name may be a footnote alongside some of the giants of the Big Band era, Steve Madrick had an extraordinary career. A talented saxophonist, he performed with Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Sonny Dunham, Jack Benny, Skitch Henderson and others, accompanying artists including Frank Sinatra, Margaret Whiting and Doris Day. He also served in Captain Glenn Miller’s U.S. Army Air Corps Band during World War II.

After his years as a musician, Madrick began a 21-year career as chief audio engineer for NBC’s "Today Show," working with hosts and personalities including Dave Garroway, Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters.

We are proud to preserve three of Madrick’s saxophones, along with other materials that tell the story of this remarkable musician and his contributions to American music and broadcasting.

Learn more about this collection at https://thesongbook.org/about/news-media/the-songbook-blog-items/collections-highlight-steve-madrick/ by @songbookfoundation

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Fore!

For National Golf Lovers Day, we’re teeing up a story about two of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century: Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Both Hollywood legends found tremendous success on the stage and screen. But they also shared a love of golf. Hope and Crosby were both inducted into the Southern California Golf Association Hall of Fame and regularly combined their passion for the sport with their commitment to charitable causes.

Crosby’s “Crosby Clambake” and the Bob Hope Desert Classic became notable charity golf events, bringing together celebrities, professional golfers and fans while raising money for worthy causes.

This photo captures Hope and Crosby together on the golf course and comes from the Michael Feinstein Collection at the Songbook Library & Archives. by @songbookfoundation

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Music has a way of connecting us across generations. Some songs may be introduced to us as children but stay with us for a lifetime, bringing back memories of childhood and moments of comfort and joy.

To celebrate Kids Music Day, we’re sharing one of the songs recently featured in our September Perfect Harmony® resources:

First recorded in 1939 and published the following year, “You Are My Sunshine” became one of the most familiar songs in American popular music. Its simple, memorable melody has made it easy to share across generations, whether sung as a lullaby, a family favorite or a warm reminder of someone who brings light into our lives.

Enjoy this performance by a group of young musicians playing “You Are My Sunshine” on handbells!

Learn more about Perfect Harmony at TheSongbook.org/PerfectHarmony. by @songbookfoundation

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