Top Men of Tin Pan Alley

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 928, 24 May 1957, Page 7

Top Men of Tin Pan Alley

FROM THE ZBS

"IN PAN ALLEY has become synonymous with American popular music, and to become a successful denizen of the Alley is the goal of every popular song writer. The stories of thtee who have become established in that fabulous precinct are told in the first progtammes of a series which starts from the ZBs at 9.0 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, and from the ZAs and 1XH on Sunday, June 30. The writers, Bob Merrill, J. Fred Coots and Irving Caesar, introduce and sing their songs, and tell us how they came to be written. Bob Merrill (1ZB, June.2) is a song writer who does not fead music. In. the programme he explains how he writes his songs with the help of a numbered xylophone. Naturally, he didn’t plan for a musical career, but after trying stage acting, and directing, the Army, and directing and script-writing in Hollywood, he decided to have a go at song writing. He spent some years trying, but finally a succession of hits showed that he had beet struggling in the right

direction. As well as "Doggie in the Window," he has written such songs as -Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," and ee Italiano." J. Fred Coots (3ZB, June 2) has hed more than 700 songs published since his first professional effort in 1922. As an experienced veteran he is considered one of the knowledgeable on the subject of Tin Pan Alley and the changing times. "There is actually little difference, " he says, of popular song writing, "except that in the old days there was a great deal of romance attached to it, which seetns to have vanished, Years ago it took months to establish a song, and a hit could last several years, until it grew into a standard. Today the song turnover ig enormous." Coots is still writing songs, and working on a book | on his experiences in the Alley. t Irving Caesar (2ZB, June 2) is another whose successful career has lasted many years. He has worked with such musicians as George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans and Victor Herbert, on hits which.

have included "Tea for Two,’ "Swanee," and "Sometimes I’m Happy." His programmes cover only the high points and key songs in his career, but Irving Caesar, besides writing songs, has also worked hard to develop security for the song writer. He was President of the Song Writers’ Protective Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Although song writing has been his career, he is proud of his ability as an _ entertainer. These three composers contribute two programmes each to the ZB series, and in addition there will be two additional programmes-from the two husband-and-wife teams on radio, TV and films, Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy, and Eddie Albert and Margo. They sing their favourite songs, including the specialty numbers from their acts. Folk Song Programmes In his History of Popular Music in America, Sigmund Spaeth states that popular music is an index to the life

and history of a nation, reflecting, as it does the changing character of a people. He places popular songs in the category of folk music, noting that both, based on universal human characteristics, depend on a simple melody, and rhythm, and a similar balance of. responsibility between text and tune. He considers that the best of this modern folk music will last as well as the older European folk songs. The latter will be represented in four programmes by the Roger Wagner Chorale (4ZB, June 2), who sing some well-known songs from the British Isles, France and Italy, and lesser known ones from Scandinavia, Spain and Germany. "Sea shanties, the folk music of a working class, will be sung in another programme by Leonard Warren, the Metropolitan Opera baritone, who will also provide a programme of the most popular baritone arias from Italian opera. Many of these, such as the "Largo Al Factotum," have become so well known that they, too, could be classed as popular music. rn ree,