EVENT ARCHIVES

A Rousing Tribute to Those Amazing Close Harmony Gals and Musical Pioneers -- Katie Martucci & Her Swing Band celebrate the amazing Boswell Sisters -- those three hip chicks from New Orleans who revolutionized singing with their rhythmic experimentation in harmony. The innovations of Martha, Connee and Helvetia Boswell were a major influence on such vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald and the Andrew Sisters.

For our "Uke-A-Palooza," here's your chance to experience the ukulele in all its glory, showing its versatility in popular music, from standards, to jazz to rock, combining a demonstration, presentation, clips of virtuoso ukulele performances by the likes of George Harrison, Joe Brown, Eddie Vedder, and more, as well as live performances by a variety of terrific ukulele players, singers and other instrumentalists. Presented by APSS board member Andrew Poretz, who will also be among the performers. If you play the uke, you're also invited to bring yours & play along in our grand finale (we'll keep it simple & have chord sheets for all who want one).

Join hosts Mark William and Haley Swindal on a lighthearted voyage through many of the classic and contemporary Christmas songs that have graced Broadway (and other) stages. From Mame to Elf to Subways Are For Sleeping, you’re sure to leave this show humming a catchy tune and with some Broadway trivia to boot. Whether these songs originated in Broadway shows or wound up there years later, they have brought joy to audiences and listeners alike, and will continue to do so for generations to come. A Broadway Christmas is produced by Mark William and Sandi Durell, has music direction by Steven Silverstein, and was originally conceived by Matthew Zwyer.

On January 11, the American Popular Song Society takes pride in saluting one of the founding fathers of the Great American Songbook, the legendary BING CROSBY, in the person of his biographer, one of the greatest living writers about music, GARY GIDDINS. [TK this is correct spelling] Gary’s ongoing multi-volume series on the life and impact of Crosby is perhaps the most ambitious undertaking ever written about a major American cultural figure, on a par with Peter Guralnick’s epic bio of Elvis Presley, or even, for that matter, Robert Caro’s iconic works on Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson. Join APSS board member Will Friedwald as he and Gary talk about all things Bing amidst a a carefully-curated collection of classic Crosby clips.

An Afternoon with Richard Skipper: The Magic of Believing tells the story of a precocious 13-year-old South Carolina-an who decided on August 5th, 1974 that he would move to New York in five years, to the day, and try his hand at show business. Check out www.RichardSkipper.com for more info.
"In his beautifully constructed and engaging one-man show, Skipper, with candor and humor (his timing is a master class in itself) regaled with tales of his youth and the road to New York City from Conway, South Carolina" -Marilyn Lester, Nightlife Exchange

This month, the APSS gets the jump on the centennial of a great American artist, the legendary MISS PEGGY LEE. Be there when JAMES GAVIN, the author of the definitive biography IS THAT ALL THERE IS: THE STRANGE LIFE OF PEGGY LEE, speaks with the APSS's Will Friedwald. This promises to be a fun-filled afternoon, packed with vintage anecdotage and classic clips of the great lady in action!

Produced by Marilyn Lester

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO
RESTRICTIONS OF CARONAVIRUS

From the 1930s to today, singing piano players have been steadfastly supplying some of the most memorable moments in jazz, popular music, and the great American songbook. From the riotous rhythm of Fats Waller, to the smooth groove crooning of Nat King Cole, to the whisper soft intimacy of Blossom Dearie, it’s impossible to conceive of the music without these remarkable artists. Now the APSS honors these great artists with an outstanding program that will combine past and present; from the great legends of the past (also including Nellie Lutcher, Matt Dennis, Barbara Carroll and the one-and-only Bobby Short) with the major artists of today who are not only keeping this music but helping it to thrive and grow and expand into the 21st Century. This program will feature both live music, performed by today’s great singing pianists like: Eric Comstock, Eric Y Garcia, Steve Ross, Daryll Sherman, John Meyer, Champian Fulton, and Billy Stritch (via youTube) from their locked-down apartments, and classic video clips. Produced by Will Friedwald. Here are some pictures.