and San Francisco’s Jazz atthe Ballroom. After absorbing the

music of Louis Armstrongand Sidney Bechet by way oftheir father’s recordcollection, they soonembarked upon a musicaljourney beginning more thantwenty years ago – classicalpiano lessons, self-taught

guitar, entry into the schoolband by the 4th grade, andmembership in a semi-professional New OrleansDixieland group called theCapitol Focus Band,comprised of high school andcollege students, whichtoured both the US and theUK. Although there wouldbe Julliard and several rolemodels and mentors along

the way, notably JoeTemperley, the learningprocess always incorporatedlistening to recordings of thegreat jazz legends. Havingbeen introduced to thisapproach at an early age, apractice reinforced through“assignments” made by theirprofessional musician wisemen, it became permanently

engrained as a way of life forthe Anderson brothers. Laterthey would incorporatelearning the lyrics of theAmerican Songbookstandards which havebecome the centerpiece oftheir repertoire. Peter andWill both believe that bythinking of the words as theyperform the music, theycreate a sensibility which

FEBRUARY 2019www.APSSinc.org

Newsletter

VOLUME 40, NUMBER 5 Formerly New York Sheet Music Society

By Jerry Osterberg

Continued on page 3

T he New YorkTimes has calledPeter and WillAnderson “Virtuosos onclarinet and saxophone,” andthe Washington Post referredto their music as“…imaginatively unfoldingin ways that consistentlybring a fresh perspective toclassic jazz.” And Joe Lang,in reviewing their BennieMeets Artie production inDecember for Jersey Jazz,wrote “The Andersons gaveenough of their clarinetartistry to show them to beperfect interpreters of thestyles of both Shaw andGoodman. When they optedto play the other instrumentsin their musical quiver, theydemonstrated that the highquality of their playingapplies no matter theinstrument.” Through the efforts of

APSS Board member JudyStewart, who helped themfind a rarely free Saturdayafternoon, Peter and Will cannow add Local 802 as thelatest in a growing list ofperformance venues, spreadover forty states, Asia, SouthAmerica, and the UK.Among them are New York’sBlue Note, Jazz at LincolnCenter, Feinstein’s 54 Below,and Symphony Space,together with the KennedyCenter, New Orleans JazzFestival, Princeton Festival,

distinguishes their playing. On January 12, the 31

year - old Anderson twinsperformed a stunningprogram of elegant standardsat APSS, beginning withCole Porter’s “Begin theBeguine,” arguably thelongest popular song everwritten. Joined by jazzguitarist Felix Lemerle, anaccomplished musician andson of the well-respectedEuropean bassist DominiqueLemerle, the charmingyoung men played one iconicsong after another,interspersed with occasionalbits of humor which theaudience found endearing.Following a gorgeousrendition of “Cheek toCheek,” one of many IrvingBerlin tunes introduced byFred Astaire, members wereadmonished to refrain fromsinging along, although theywere encouraged to be“rowdy.”Over the course of the

afternoon, the concert rangedfrom Porter and Berlin toGershwin, Rodgers,Carmichael, Ellington,McHugh, and Mancini. Thesongs were “Love is Here toStay,” “Rhapsody in Blue,”“My Favorite Things,”“Skylark,” “The Mooch,” “ICan’t Give You AnythingBut Love,” and “MoonRiver,” the latter performedas a jazzy waltz just begging

Peter and Will Anderson:Devoted to the Masters of the American Songbook

Peter Anderson, Felix Lemerle, Will Anderson

Photo by Rose Billings

Hello, Everyone:

What a great way to start 2019 with our terrific opening singer,Mark William, whose debut show has garnered a lot of well-deserved buzz. Thanks toJudy Stewart for convincing the amazing Anderson Twins to perform a program for us.They are super talented, knowledgeable, and charming; we didn’t want the afternoon tobe over. There was a terrific turnout, and the show could not have been more wonderful.Read all about it in this issue.I am excited about our February Program featuring the beautiful Shana Farr

performing her show about the late and great Barbara Cook. Shana has an outstandingvoice, and she will be accompanied by Mark Janas on piano. The next day, I will beescaping the cold weather on a flight to Puerto Vallarta and I am very excited to spendtwo weeks in Paradise.We have been getting nice comments about our popular Member Exchange Table.

Many thanks to members and guests who have been donating their memorabilia andtaking home some of these treasures. So, if you are going through your collections andwant to donate duplicates or feel it is time to make more room in your home, pleasebring sheet music, CD’s, DVD’s, books, etc. to us. They are truly valued.A great big thanks to David Tane for bringing his piano tuner to Local 802 the day

before our show, and giving APSS the gift of a free tuning. People did notice thedifference, especially the pianist and some of our members who have perfect pitch! Wealso added a spotlight, which brightened up the stage, improved the lighting, andcertainly works better for the videographer, as we archive the remarkable events atAPSS.I am looking forward to seeing you all on February 9th. Bring friends and spread

the word about our wonderful Society.

PAGE 2 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY FEBRUARY, 2019

President’s Message...Linda Amiel Burns, President

Linda

President:Linda Amiel Burns

Vice Presidents:Joan AdamsSandi Durell

Treasurer & Membership:Glen Charlow

Secretary:Marilyn Lester

Board Of Directors:Elliott AmesBill Boggs

Glen CharlowSandi DurellWill FriedwaldMichael LavineMarilyn LesterSandy MarroneJerry OsterbergAndrew PoretzJudy StewartTom Toce

Membership Mailing Address:American Popular Song Society

P.O. Box 5856Pikesville, MD 21282APSSinc.org@gmail.com

(212) 315-3500 (Linda A. Burns)

American PopularSong Society

MEETING LOCATION: Local 802 – Musicians’ Hall322 West 48th Street. Program: 1:45 – 3:30PM.Come early to look thru Sheet Music & CD’s & stuff, all FREE.

N E W S L E T T E REditor/Publisher: Jerry Osterberg

osterbergg@aol.comContributing Editor: Marilyn Lester

mj@mjlester.comAssociate Editor: Joan Adamsjoan.adams@corcoran.com

Graphic Designer: Glen CharlowGlenCharlow@gmail.com

orAPSSinc.org@gmail.com

L to R. Linda Amiel Burns, Preston Ridge, Mark William, guitarist Felix Lemerle,pianist Clint Edwards, Richie Ridge

p.s. Due to an increase inexpenses, we had to raise themembership dues only 5.00.So a single yearlymembership is now 60. andcouples are 80. We makeevery effort to keep these feeslow. Of course if you want tojoin at the Angel, Patron orBenefactor levels, that'salways another option ofmembership.

Best wishes,

Photo by Rose Billings

to be danced to. Thosefortunate enough to haveattended the SongbookSummit series during the pasttwo summers, would not havebeen surprised by theAnderson’s choice ofmaterial, although therewasn’t enough time in theAPSS program to includeJerome Kern and HaroldArlen. In responding to aquestion about the composersthey would most like toaddress in the future, Peterand Will offered Ellington,Waller, Armstrong, Lane,Coleman, Warren, plus MaryLou Williams. One can onlyhope!With just three

extraordinary musicians on

stage, and the combinations ofinstruments to be had, thediverse performance may as

well have been billed as avariety show. What made theentertainment so delightfullyengaging is that even as thesavvy instrumentalists shifted

from solo formats to duos andtrios, and from song to song,the smartly rendered jazz

arrangements never deviatedfar from the instantlyrecognizable melodies whichcomprise the AmericanSongbook. In-spite-of the

familiarity of the music, everyarrangement was fresh andexciting, and mostimportantly, pleasing to thelisteners. While their public career

has been relatively brief, Peterand Will Anderson havealready made quite animpression in the jazz world.Notwithstanding theirremarkable presence, Isuspect they may not yet feelas if they’ve fully arrived.They have clearly beeninfluenced by the great jazzplayers yet appear matureenough to appreciate thatthere’s a lot more to learn.One can only imagine whatlies ahead and thecontribution to the art of jazzthey seem bound to make. Itwill be interesting to watchtheir growth.

FEBRUARY, 2019 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 3

The Andersons....Continued from page 1

Board member Judy Stewart with Peter & Will

Mark William:Just Crooning Along

With the Breeze

Long before Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and DeanMartin, there were crooners among us. Back in the15th Century, when the term“croon” first appeared, men in hosemanaged to sing softly without the useof a microphone, although the Scotsreferred to the practice as “bellowing,”suggesting they had no need foramplification. No one thought ofreferring to these singers, who owedtheir ability to be heard beyond the firstrow to the mic, as crooners prior to1930. Fast forward to the 21st Century,

specifically January 12, 2019, the daythat APSS members were visited by oneof the youngest practitioners of the artof crooning, Mark William. Havingperformed with Leslie Uggams, SusanAnton, and Klea Blackhurst at Birdlandand Feinstein’s 54 Below, and with two solo shows to his credit,Mark might be called a newcomer with benefits. He was namedone of the top ten cabaret performers in 2018 by both

TheaterPizzazz and the Times Square Chronicles. Withenthusiastic support from a-number-of high-profile cabaretartists, Mark is off to a good start. Accompanied by Clint Edwards, a songwriter in his own

right, Mark ranges over the stage like a seasoned professional.All at once, the poise and presence are tangible; the articulationcrisp and clear. His boyish appearance is clearly no barrier to

the ability to entertain an audience.Opening with “On the Street Where YouLive,” his up-tempo hip performancewas reminiscent of Bobby Darin, BuddyGreco, or the swinging persona of SteveLawrence. But the crooning aspect ofMark’s approach to music was bestdemonstrated by his ballads, “PureImagination” and “Over the Rainbow,”the latter benefiting from the beautifulverse, one of its better attributes.Mark William may be one of those

“…inspiring hopefuls,” but his obvioustalent is bound to keep him competitive.Although the world of cabaret is not alarge pond, there are plenty ofimpressive singers out there striving forattention, and some have been at it for a

long time. With the advantage of youth and energy, combinedwith a willingness to learn and improve, he may just staythe course.

Mark William & pianist Clint Edwards

Photo by Rose Billings

Photo by Rose Billings

PAGE 4 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY FEBRUARY, 2019

Barbara Cook – Precursor to a LegendBy Marilyn Lester

In the decades before her death onAugust 8, 2017 (just short of her90th birthday), Barbara Cook wasknown mostly as a consummate cabaretand concert stage performer. From hersignature song, “Ice Cream” (She LovesMe), there was an awareness that the divahad once had a successful Broadwaycareer. Yet, those days were behind her,ending with the play, Enemies, in 1972 –a little over 20 years from her Broadwaydebut in Flahooley in 1951.Barbara Cook was born In Atlanta,

Georgia on October 25, 1927 to Nell (néeHarwell) and Charles Bunyan Cook. Herfather was a traveling hat salesman andher mother was an operator for SouthernBell telephone company. The tragedies ofher very young life were the divorce ofher parents and the death of her onlysibling, a sister, from whooping cough.Cook lived alone with her motherthereafter, in relative poverty, recallinglater that dinners sometimes were nothingmore than white bread and ketchup. Yet,she knew early on that she wanted to singand that she wanted to do it in New YorkCity. Cook idolized Jeanette MacDonald as

a child and found her way to performingin kiddie shows. She also sang at the ElksClub and at age 14 she won an amateurnight contest at Atlanta’s Roxy Theater bysinging “My Devotion.” The prize was$10. Upon graduating from high school,she worked in Atlanta for three years as atypist. With her mother, Cook travelled toNew York City in 1948, intent on stayingand launching a career as an actress.Fortune was on her side. At an audition,composer Vernon Duke was sufficientlyimpressed to recommend she perform atTamiment, a summer resort in thePoconos; she was seen there by theowners of the Blue Angel nightclub inNew York – Max Gordon and HerbertJacoby – who booked her in 1950; it washer professional debut. That gig quicklyled to a role in the very short-livedSammy Fain-E.Y, Harburg musical,Flahooley (it ran for only 40

performances in 1951). But Cook wasnow on her way. Marriage came in 1952, to actor

David LeGrant, with whom she had onechild, Adam, in 1959 (they divorced in1965). In 1953 she was featured, as AdoAnnie, in the City Center revival ofOklahoma!, followed in 1954 by another

City Center revival of Carousel, in whichshe played Carrie Pipperidge. Of thisengagement, she said it was “the first timethe critics really paid attention to me. Itwas like I was the new young thing. It

was very important for me.” At the sametime, Cook was acting in “GoldenWindows” on NBC, a weekday serial. In1954, she also appeared in a televisionproduction of Babes in Toyland. The exposure led her to her second

new Broadway musical, Plain and Fancy,which ran for 461 performances fromJanuary 1955 to March 1956. Next, sheappeared in a television production of themusical Bloomer Girl before landing therole of Cunegonde in Candide, LenardBernstein’s 1956 masterpiece. It was aperfect match: not many performers couldhave handled the challenging coloraturasoprano song “Glitter and Be Gay” asCook did – and her reputation soared,even as the musical largely failed.With a television production of

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Yeoman of theGuard and yet another City Center revivalof Carousel (now playing the leading roleof Julie Jordan), Cook moved on to herfourth new Broadway musical in 1957. Itwas her most successful outing on theRialto. She was cast as Marian thelibrarian in Meredith Wilson’s The MusicMan, winning the Tony Award forfeatured actress in a musical. In 1963 shecreated the role of Amalia Balash in theJerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick musical, SheLoves Me.What may not be remembered about

Cook is that she also had a strong careeras a dramatic actress. She appeared ontelevision not only as a guest vocalist onsuch shows as “The Ed Sullivan Show,”but took acting roles on “The Play of theWeek,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” andmany more. She appeared on Broadwayin the Lincoln Center production ofMaxim Gorky’s Enemies in 1972. At thispoint, Cook had been struggling withdepression and alcoholism (which sheovercame in 1977). In the mid 1970s shemet composer-pianist Wally Harper, whoconvinced her to put a concert together.On January 26, 1975, Barbara Cook madeher Carnegie Hall debut, sparking a newcareer that would make her a true legendin the world of entertainment.

Barbara Cook, 1950

1953 Barbara Cook, Oklahoma Revival

Teenaged Barbara & her Mother

Linda Amiel Burns, APSS President, is celebrating four decades of The SingingExperience. Several APSS members have taken this workshop, some more thanonce. For those of us who have, we can assure you that you’ll feel like a pro bythe night of the performance. Although many students have never sung in publicbefore, the supportive environment has prepared them well for their debut. CallLinda at 212-315-3500 to sign up. The Singing Experience Cable TV showcontinues on MNN Time Warner: Channel 56 or RCN: Channel 111. Theprogram broadcasts are every Sunday at 5:00 PM. You can also see your fellowNYSMS members on YouTube at any time.

Midday Jazz Midtown continues Wednesdays (1:00 PM to 2:00 PM) at SaintPeter’s Church (East 54 Street (entrance) @ Lexington Ave), NYC, Hosted byRonny Whyte. February 6, Jay Clayton – singer, Armen Donilian – piano;February 13, Alex Leonard – singer/pianist, Al Gafa – Guitar, Jay Leonhart –bass; February 20, Eyal Vilner Big Band; February 27, Roz Corral – singer, BruceBarth – piano, Paul Gill – bass. Suggested donation: $10. Parking: Icon Parking,East 51 St, between Third and Lexington Ave. $15 including tax for five hourswith validation@Saint Peter’s Reception Desk. www.ronnywhyte.comwww.saintpeters.org/jazz/midtownjazz.htm.

KT Sullivan, accompanied by Jon Weber, will present her latest show I CanCook, When Barbara Met Wally, at the Birdland Theater, 315 West 44th Street,on Wednesday through Saturday, February 27 to March 2 at 7:00 PM. Forreservations: 212-581-3080 or www.birdlandjazz.com.

Liora Michelle: The Greedy Soprano, will play a return engagement at Don’t TellMama on Friday, March 8 @ 7:00 PM. Admission is $15 or $10 for APSS andMAC members plus a 2-drink minimum, cash only. For a preview, see theCabaret Scenes review of Liora’s show in January.

Nancy McGraw’s Sings Johnny Mercer – “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening”at the West Bank Café, Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street,accompanied by Mark Nadler, on Friday, February 22 @ 7:00 PM and Sunday,February 24 @ 1:00 PM. $25 cover, $20 minimum.

The next outing of It’s Just a Number, hosted by MAC Award winner BobbieHorowitz, will take place on Thursday, February 7 @ 7:00 PM at Don’t Tell Mama.Honorees are Jack Urbont, Carole Demas, and Ira Lee Collings. Performersinclude Yvonne Constant, Donna Elliott, Arturo Padilla, Bruce Clough, NatashaCastillo, Sara Rice, Lynda Rodolitz, and Josephine Sanges. Musical Directorsare Matthew Martin Ward, John M. Cook, Dan Furman, and Ian Herman. $20cover/$15 APSS & MAC, 2-drink min.

Daryl Sherman, accompanied by Boots Maleson, will present a special Valentineshow Love You Madly on Wednesday, February 13 @ 8:00 and 10:00 PM at

FEBRUARY, 2019 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 5

Member News...

Send Member News to Osterbergg@aol .com no la ter than the 15th of each month for the next issue.

If you have any member news, or other items you would like to haveconsidered for this newsletter, please send it by e-mail to the co-editor, Jerry Osterbergg: osterbergg@AOL.com. It will be subject toediting, depending on size and content, and please remember thatwe try to go to press two weeks before each monthly meeting. Weoften get very good items that get to us after the newsletter has beenprinted and mailed.

Jazz at Kitano, 66 Park Avenue at East 38th Street. For reservations, call 212-885-7119 or www.kitano.com.

If you missed Andrew Poretz’s well-received performance at Parnell’s, with BillZeffiro, on January 10, there’s a chance to catch his fabulous act on Thursday,March 7, beginning at 7:00 PM.

Twin Cities singer/pianist/impresario and APSS member Les Block reports thatthe Johnny Mercer Centennial radio series, created by Les and radio host DavidCummings, has been accepted by the Library of Congress as a permanentaddition to its Recorded Sound Reference Center. The program was originallybroadcast in a series of ten, one-hour segments, on KFAI-FM in 2009. It’s aremarkable collection of interviews for the subject of the lyrics of Johnny Mercer.Among those who Les and David spoke with were Margaret Whiting, TonyBennett, Kay Starr, Barry Manilow, Nancy Wilson, Monica Mancini, JohnnyMathis, Daryl Sherman, Herb Jeffries, Diahann Carroll, Steve Allen, AndyWilliams, Jack Lemmon, Dave Frishberg, and David Allyn. The entire programcan be accessed through Google It is afascinating bit of history.

Board member Marilyn Lester is now the Executive Director of the new nonprofitAmerican Songbook Association (an outgrowth of the Cabaret Scenesfoundation). The mission is publishing the magazine, bringing the music into theschools and providing quality, low-cost performances to senior citizens, studentsand all who love songbook music. Please checkout www.americansongbookassociation.org

Do you seek an elusive song? If you do, write APSS Board member SandyMarrone @ smusandy@aol.com or call 856-829-6104. You can also visit Sandyin New Jersey to see thousands and thousands of sheets of music, most ofwhich can be yours very reasonably. She is a marvelous resource and a super-great lady! Having heard from only a few of our members over the past year orso, Sandy wants to remind you that she’s still at it, adding to her collection everyday, and always willing to part with sheet music at especially fair prices for us.Sheet music was the reason we were founded thirty plus years ago, after all, andshe’s only a phone call or e-mail away. Sandy continues to be willing to offerfree appraisals with no expectation of having right of first refusal and can provideunbiased advice as to how and where to sell music. It’s not a secret, pass it onplease.

Those fortunate enough to catch Shana Farr’s latest iteration of Love Poetic,featuring the music, lyrics and words of Noel Coward and Cole Porter, assistedby Jon Weber at the keys in January, will be pleased to see her again this monthat APSS. Shana will be reprising her tribute to Barbara Cook. Shana’s performedher much acclaimed Julie Andrews show at APSS a few years back. Welcomeback Shana!

Jeff Macauley, never at a loss for new material, has been performing hisdelightful Where Do the Gentlemen Go? The Songs of Bobby Troup and the Lifeof Scotty Powers. How’s that for a title? If you’ve not seen it yet, Jeff will be backat Pangea on March 2 @ 7:00 PM. Pangea is located at 178 Second Avenue(between East 11th and 12th Streets).https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4049580.

Steve Ross, who never appears to have a night off, will be returning to Birdlandwith his new show How Do You Like Your Love: a Post-Valentine Cabaret onFebruary 18 @ 7:00 PM. 212-580-3080. And, if you’ve never listened to a liveradio program, New York Cabaret Nights, which was broadcast from theAlgonquin’s Oak Room some years ago, here’s a second chance. Steve, whowas a frequent host, tells us that the programs are now available on-line athttps://www.wnyc.org/series/new-york-cabaret-nights.

October 13, 2018Alex Leonard presents Harry Warren

November 10, 2018Alan Jay Lerner with Amy Asch,KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler

December 8, 2018Celebrating Frank Sinatra on his birthday with

clips and songsJanuary 12, 2019The Anderson TwinsFebruary 9, 2019

Barbara Cook show by Shana FarrMarch 9, 2019Ron FasslerApril 13, 2019

Celebrating Jazz MonthMay 11, 2019

Songwriter ShowcaseJune 8, 2019

Richard Skipper Celebrates June 8th in Song

P.O. Box 5856 • PIKESVILLE, MD 21282

Did you know every issue of this newsletteris in COLOR online at www.APSSinc.org

American PopularSong Society

2018 - 19 Season

FEBRUARY 9th-"It’s Not Where You Start:

The Songbook of Barbara Cook

It's Not Where You Start: The Songbook ofBarbara Cook, celebrates the legendaryBroadway, concert and cabaret star BarbaraCook. It is a feast of vocal amazement and stellarinterpretation, paying tribute to Cook with songsby Bernstein, Hammerstein, Sondheim and more.Displaying an intelligent and sophisticatedapproach to the material and with a polishedelegance, Shana Farr brilliantly commands thestage and leads the audience on a journey from ayoung ingénue to a woman full of life experience.

Hannah JanePeterson is an 18-year old senior atthe ProfessionalPerforming Arts Schoolin the Musical TheaterProgram. She describesherself as an old souland often jokes that shewas born in the wrongera as a nod to her loveof Golden Age musicand musicals. In Fall2018, Hannah Janemade her NYC cabaret debut with her firstsolo show at the Laurie Beechman Theater toa packed house. She is looking forward tograduating high school in the spring andchasing her dreams all the way to Broadwayand beyond.

Hannah Jane PetersonFebruary’s Opener