ThoughtGallery.org > ‘NYC’s Tin Pan Alley: The Birthplace of America’s Music Industry’ Webinar

‘NYC’s Tin Pan Alley: The Birthplace of America’s Music Industry’ Webinar

If you walked over right now to the Manhattan intersection of West 28th Street and Broadway, what would you hear? Unfortunately, like too many streets in NYC these days, probably only construction and car horns. But over 100 years ago, you would have been greeted with something else entirely: a cacophony of sounds from aspiring composers, singing and banging away on the piano, from the sidewalk to walk-up music studios. This is the story of one neighborhood in New York that transformed the city into the songwriting and music publishing capital of the world — a role it still maintains over a century later.

Join New York Adventure Club as we shine a spotlight on the former New York City neighborhood of Tin Pan Alley, the birthplace of the American music industry, which produced some of the most prolific songwriters of the early 20th century.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, who is widely considered one of the nation’s most prolific music writers, our virtual journey down Tin Pan Alley will include:

  • The origin story of Tin Pan Alley, and how a stretch of West 28th Street in Manhattan became the home for independent music publishers and songwriters from around the world
  • The evolution of the American music business, from the early days where songwriters were largely anonymous, to the mid-1960s when The Beatles and Bob Dylan changed the fundamental business model, to today’s ‘360’ management deals
  • The music styles that converged in the former neighborhood, including jazz & blues from New Orleans, cowboy songs from the American West, and theatrical scores from the theatres in Europe
  • Stories about the early music legends, such as Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, and Cole Porter
  • Rare and vintage audio & video clips of the legendary Tin Pan Alley songwriters in action, such as Johnny Green playing “Body and Soul and Harold Arlen singing “Stormy Weather — none of which can be found online

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about Tin Pan Alley are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there! $10.

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar*

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Chrome and Firefox are the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Will

Will Friedwald is a featured arts writer for The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair, and the award-winning author of ten books on music and popular culture, including the new Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole, as well as A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers, Sinatra: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, and Jazz Singing.  He has written over 600 liner notes for compact discs, received ten Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and other documentaries.  He is also a consultant and curator for Apple Music.











When: Thu., Dec. 17, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

If you walked over right now to the Manhattan intersection of West 28th Street and Broadway, what would you hear? Unfortunately, like too many streets in NYC these days, probably only construction and car horns. But over 100 years ago, you would have been greeted with something else entirely: a cacophony of sounds from aspiring composers, singing and banging away on the piano, from the sidewalk to walk-up music studios. This is the story of one neighborhood in New York that transformed the city into the songwriting and music publishing capital of the world — a role it still maintains over a century later.

Join New York Adventure Club as we shine a spotlight on the former New York City neighborhood of Tin Pan Alley, the birthplace of the American music industry, which produced some of the most prolific songwriters of the early 20th century.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, who is widely considered one of the nation’s most prolific music writers, our virtual journey down Tin Pan Alley will include:

  • The origin story of Tin Pan Alley, and how a stretch of West 28th Street in Manhattan became the home for independent music publishers and songwriters from around the world
  • The evolution of the American music business, from the early days where songwriters were largely anonymous, to the mid-1960s when The Beatles and Bob Dylan changed the fundamental business model, to today’s ‘360’ management deals
  • The music styles that converged in the former neighborhood, including jazz & blues from New Orleans, cowboy songs from the American West, and theatrical scores from the theatres in Europe
  • Stories about the early music legends, such as Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, and Cole Porter
  • Rare and vintage audio & video clips of the legendary Tin Pan Alley songwriters in action, such as Johnny Green playing “Body and Soul and Harold Arlen singing “Stormy Weather — none of which can be found online

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about Tin Pan Alley are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there! $10.

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar*

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Chrome and Firefox are the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Will

Will Friedwald is a featured arts writer for The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair, and the award-winning author of ten books on music and popular culture, including the new Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole, as well as A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers, Sinatra: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, and Jazz Singing.  He has written over 600 liner notes for compact discs, received ten Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and other documentaries.  He is also a consultant and curator for Apple Music.

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