Category: Tuesday Night Presentations City Songs & American Life

City Songs & American Life


November 12, 2019

New York City is one of the great subjects of American popular music. Even when a song never mentions New York, it’s still a city song in its outlook, point of view, and sensibility. Much of it comes from a combination of African-American syncopation and conversational lyrics first used by Irish and Jewish songwriters in Tin Pan Alley. You might even say that without the children of slaves and cast-offs, there would be no such thing as an American sound.

Michael Lasser, is a former teacher and theater critic. He is host of the Peabody Award winning, syndicated public-radio show "Fascinatin' Rhythm." "He doesn’t sing and he doesn’t dance, but he knows all there is to know about American popular music....He is a walking encyclopedia of American song.” Jeff Tyzik, Principal Pops Conductor , Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Autographed copies of his book "City Songs" will be available for #35.00

2 Vince Tofany Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14612
(585) 225-8951

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