F104Z Fall 2024 From Tin Pan Alley to Motown: Music’s Intersection Between Entertainment

F104Z From Tin Pan Alley to Motown: Music’s Intersection Between Entertainment, Politics and Social Justice
Wednesdays, 2:15—3:40, Sept. 25—Oct. 3
0 Six sessions
Instructor: Michael Agron
The Great American Songbook, rooted in New York City’s Tin Pan Alley, is a rich tapestry of iconic standards that have left an indelible mark on Broadway, film, popular music, and jazz. Composers like Irving Berlin, the Gershwin Brothers, Dorothy Fields, Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Rodgers & Hammerstein II, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim didn’t merely compose melodies; they also addressed pressing social issues such as domestic violence, race, civil rights, ethnicity, and lofty ideals. Beyond Tin Pan Alley, the tradition persevered, with Brill Building songwriters like Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil & Barry Mann, and Motown’s Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. The rise of the Folk Rock era 2 Art & Music in the sixties, championed by figures like Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Buffalo Springfield, and the Byrds, further contributed to its legacy. In this series, we unravel the narratives behind these songs, examining how they confronted the challenges of their time while still resonating today. Through over 100 recordings and videos of over 60 singers and groups, we illuminate how these artists navigated the complex interplay of entertainment, patriotism, politics, and social justice. Michael Agron returns to OLLI Mason for his second lecture series. He grew up in LA, the heart of the recording and entertainment industry. He loved music so much he wanted to become a recording engineer. Fate had different plans and he ended up with a successful career in hi-tech, including founding a webinar marketing agency. He has been fortunate enough to fulfill his musical and entertainment passions by offering his varied and unique popular seminars thirteen times to members the Sacramento Renaissance Society at Cal State University Sacramento and to numerous OLLI