HOW JEWISH SONGWRITERS
SHAPED OUR AMERICAN MUSIC & CULTURE
Lecture series by writer/commentator/performer
SAUL H. JACOBS
These highly informative and entertaining lectures focus on the contributions of Jewish songwriters to 20th
Century music and our American culture.
After reviewing why so many of our musical shows and popular songs -- including most of the popular (and
even some religious) Christmas songs -- have been written by Jewish songwriters, the lectures relate
specific, often surprising, examples of major musical influences. Composers and lyricists include Irving
Berlin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Jerry Herman, E.Y. Yip Harburg, Dorothy Fields, Sammy Cahn
& Max Steiner. Broadway & Hollywood shows featured in the stories include Oklahoma! South Pacific, La
Cage aux Folles, Camelot, Ziegfeld Follies, Show Boat, Gone With the Wind & Casablanca. Singers of the
Jewish works include Kate Smith, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Helen Morgan & Al Jolson . Also, there are
stories about Jews involved in famous radio jingles. Plus audience participation & discussions. Throughout,
you’ll be enlightened and delighted.
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SAUL ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF INFORMATIONAL AND DOCUMENTARY
MEDIA MATERIALS. HE WORKED WITH BURT LANCASTER, LEE MARVIN, KIRK DOUGLAS, EDDIE ALBERT, AND JAMES EARL JONES.
HIS CLIENTS INCLUDED ABC-TV, UNITED AIRLINES, LITTON INDUSTRIES, AND VARIOUS LEADING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. LATE IN HIS CAREER, HE ALSO LECTURED ON WRITING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT UCLA EXTENSION AND
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT NORTHRIDGE. HE ALSO WROTE COMEDY MATERIAL FOR GEORGE GOEBEL, J.P. MORGAN, AND
TEX RITTER (YES, THE COWBOY STAR/), AND HE WROTE AND PERFORMED SPECIAL MATERIAL AT ANNUAL MEETINGS FOR NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATERING EXECUTIVES.
HE IS NOW MATCHING UP THOSE RESEARCHING, WRITING, LECTURING, AND PERFORMING SKILLS WITH HIS ACADEMIC
BACKGROUND IN THEATER ARTS AND A LIFE-LONG INTEREST IN POPULAR MUSIC AND THE MUSICAL THEATER TO DEVELOP,
PRODUCE, AND PRESENT PROGRAMS ON POPULAR MUSIC OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
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THE LECTURES ARE DRAWN FROM “THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC,” A SERIES OF 40 PROGRAMS PRESENTED
BY SAUL & HIS PIANIST COLLEAGUE BOB LIPSON AT MORE THAN 150 DIFFERENT VENUES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SINCE 2007. .
CONTACT SAUL AT (818) 887-1611 –OR- ssjacobs@earthlink.net