University Press of Mississippi My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the Great American Songbook, 1902-1913 (American Made Music Series)

Review In spotlighting enduring works by songsmiths today forgotten--and even in their day frequently hardly known--[Garber] is persuasive that they are an important part of our musical heritage.--Daniel B. Moskowitz "American History"My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the Great American Songbook, 1902-1913 is original, extremely well researched, and builds significantly on earlier studies of the Tin Pan Alley era. The narrative Michael G. Garber constructs is convincing and adds a new dimension to our knowledge of the history of the genre.--Peter C. Muir, former director, Institute of Music and Health, and author of Long Lost Blues: Popular Blues in America, 1850-1920Michael G. Garber's splendid critique on the evolution of the torch song (love ballad) focuses on ten musical gems from 1902 to 1913, analyzed with regard to their history, music, lyrics, recordings, and utilization in plays, movies, and literature. It is a fascinating journey into the world of American popular music, underscored by the author's thorough documentation and in-depth knowledge of all facets of the industry.--Richard M. Raichelson, author of Orlando R. Marsh: Chicago's Pioneer of Electrical Recording and Beale Street Talks: A Walking Tour Down the Home of the Blues Product Description null About the Author Michael G. Garber is an interdisciplinary scholar of the performing arts, film, and media, and a specialist in Tin Pan Alley and the American musical on stage and screen. He teaches in fields as diverse as the arts, literature, education, anthropology, and communications; is a Research Fellow of the University of Winchester; and lectures internationally.