Jerome Kern

A founding father of the modern American musical, Jerome Kern (18851945) was the composer of legions of popular songs, including such standards as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Ol Man River. His 1927 Show Boat with Oscar Hammerstein II helped to set a new standard for musical theater. This book is the first to provide a critical overview of Kerns musical accomplishments throughout his career. Stephen Banfield ranges from Broadway, to Hollywood, and to Londons West End, drawing on unpublished manuscripts and scores to assess the composers extraordinary oeuvre. Kerns life, personality, and working methods are given due attention, as is the development of his work from the early musical comedies through the collaborations with Hammerstein and P. G. Wodehouse up to the later film scores. Banfield focuses especially on the musical and lyrical structures of Kerns compositions, illuminating beloved works and shedding light on compositions often overlooked.