THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO KNOW

The term folk music conjures a certain image : a smoky cafe, an earnest singer-songwriter with a guitar protesting with their lyrics. That is what folk music eventually became. Prior to that folk music was tragic tales of the workin' man - farmers and coal miners bemoaning their plight. Before that folk music consisted of artists covering ballads Scottish and Irish immigrants brought over from the old country. One woman changed folk music but is never heralded with a great who came after her. Connie Converse was called "the first singer songwriter" because she interjected her feelings into political statements rather than using her songs to tell others' tales of woe. In 1974 she packed her car, told her family goodbye, and never surfaced again.  Elizabeth Eaton Converse, born August 3, 1924 in Laconia, New Hampshire, grew up in a strict Baptist home. Her father, minister, and her mother, and accomplished musician, only allowed religious or classical music in the hous...

Two Jewish Russian immigrant brothers gave the world some of the most endearing songs ever written. They revolutionized musical theater with an operetta exploring life as black people in America. One brother left the world too early. George and Ira Gershwin wrote songs with clever lyrics and heartfelt sentiment. The Gershwins were some of the best songwriters ever to pen a tune. George was born Jacob Gershwine in 1898 ; Ira was born Israel Gershwine two years earlier. (The family dropped the e in Gershwine when the brothers became well known.) George left school at 15 to become a  Tin Pan Alley   song plugger . He made rolls for player pianos. This netted him $15 per week. Shy, bookish Ira had made friends with Yip Harburg who wrote songs himself. Ira wrote lyrics for a friend's musical in 1921. In 1919 George wrote the song Swanee - popularized by the era's biggest entertainer - Al Jolson. In 1924 George wrote  Rhapsody In Blue , a piano composition that planted jazz a...

  A scion of a wealthy Indiana family wrote some of America's most endearing songs and cultivated the idea of the "smart set." Cole Porter wrote songs and musicals that endured well into the 21st century. A gay man, Porter lived as openly as he could for his era. His clever lyrics and hummable melodies ensure that his songs will be performed for all time. To quote Cole Porter himself, he was, quite simply "The Top." Born as the only child in a wealthy Peru, Indiana family, Cole Porter began music lessons at age 6, learning the violin, piano at age eight, and wrote his first operetta at age 10. He was sent to private school in Massachusetts and entertained classmates with his musical talents. Porter graduated as valedictorian of his class. He started Yale in 1909. His grandfather pushed him to study law. Porter majored in English and minored in music. He was a member of the whiffenpoofs (name checking Richard Gilmore!)  and wrote the Yale fight song. He was also ...

  September celebrates song ... An Indiana born lyricist who's the tops in knowing anything goes Two brothers teach the world the difference between potatoes and pot-aaah-toes An unknown singer-songwriter drives herself into obscurity