About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 59. Chapters: Scott Joplin, Igor Stravinsky, Irving Berlin, Eubie Blake, Billy Mayerl, J. Russel Robinson, James P. Johnson, Harry Akst, James Reese Europe, Trebor Jay Tichenor, William Bolcom, Sadie Koninsky, List of ragtime composers, Charles L. Johnson, Joseph Lamb, David Thomas Roberts, John William Boone, Fred Van Eps, Zez Confrey, Clarence Woods, Brun Campbell, James Scott, Luckey Roberts, Harry Tierney, May Aufderheide, J. Bodewalt Lampe, Tom Turpin, Louis Chauvin, Sue Keller, Etilmon J. Stark, Percy Wenrich, Larisa Migachyov, Scott Hayden, Cecil Duane Crabb, Artie Matthews, Les C. Copeland, Roy Bargy, Calvin Woolsey, Kerry Mills, Felix Arndt, Euday L. Bowman, George L. Cobb, Thomas Shea, Ernst Fischer, Charles Hunter, George Botsford, Arthur Marshall, Theron C. Bennett, John Roache, Charles Hubbard Thompson, Paul Sarebresole. Excerpt: Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 - September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," became world famous. The song sparked an international dance craze in places as far away as Berlin's native Russia, which also "flung itself into the ragtime beat with an abandon bordering on mania." Over the years he was known for writing music and lyrics in the American vernacular: uncomplicated, simple and direct, with his aim being to "reach the heart of the average American" whom he saw as the "real soul of the country." He wrote hundreds of songs, many becoming major hits, which made him "a legend" before he turned thirty. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films, with his songs nominated eight times for Academy Awards. Many songs became popular themes and anthems, including "Ea...
