ThoughtGallery.org > ‘The Brill Building, Pt I: Jazz, Hollywood, & Big Band Years’ Webinar

‘The Brill Building, Pt I: Jazz, Hollywood, & Big Band Years’ Webinar

No single building in America has come to represent the American music industry better than the Brill Building in New York City. But how did an office building meant to be the tallest in the world become the 11-story home to most of America’s most talented musicians and industry professionals? This is the story of how, and why, the vast majority of chart hits from America and beyond came from a single address in Midtown, Manhattan.

Join New York Adventure Club for the first of a two-part series surrounding the world-famous Brill Building, an office building at 1619 Broadway in New York City that became the center of the American music industry’s songwriters, music publishers, agents, and managers ever since its completion in November of 1930.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, our part 1 deep dive into the incredible legacy of the Brill Building — which will focus on the time between the Great Depression and World War II — will include:

  • The origins of the Brill Building, from initially being planned as the tallest structure in the world, to why its construction represented heartbreak and tragedy, to how it became ground zero for the American music industry
  • Why virtually every major star of the swing era had offices in the Brill Building, from Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole
  • The Brill Building publishers who published the majority of Hollywood’s hit songs in their classic movie musicals
  • The relationship between the Brill Building and iconic songwriters like Irving Berlin, Johnny Green, and Hoagy Carmichael

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about the Brill Building are welcomed and encouraged!

Can’t make it live? Don’t worry, you’ll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Immediately upon registering, 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 — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

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.

The Brill Building Series

Part I: Jazz, Hollywood, & Big Band Years (1930-1950)

Part II: The Rock & Pop Years (1950-1970)











When: Thu., Jan. 14, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: No Location
Via livestream

Price: $10
Buy tickets/get more info now
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No single building in America has come to represent the American music industry better than the Brill Building in New York City. But how did an office building meant to be the tallest in the world become the 11-story home to most of America’s most talented musicians and industry professionals? This is the story of how, and why, the vast majority of chart hits from America and beyond came from a single address in Midtown, Manhattan.

Join New York Adventure Club for the first of a two-part series surrounding the world-famous Brill Building, an office building at 1619 Broadway in New York City that became the center of the American music industry’s songwriters, music publishers, agents, and managers ever since its completion in November of 1930.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, our part 1 deep dive into the incredible legacy of the Brill Building — which will focus on the time between the Great Depression and World War II — will include:

  • The origins of the Brill Building, from initially being planned as the tallest structure in the world, to why its construction represented heartbreak and tragedy, to how it became ground zero for the American music industry
  • Why virtually every major star of the swing era had offices in the Brill Building, from Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole
  • The Brill Building publishers who published the majority of Hollywood’s hit songs in their classic movie musicals
  • The relationship between the Brill Building and iconic songwriters like Irving Berlin, Johnny Green, and Hoagy Carmichael

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about the Brill Building are welcomed and encouraged!

Can’t make it live? Don’t worry, you’ll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Immediately upon registering, 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 — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

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.

The Brill Building Series

Part I: Jazz, Hollywood, & Big Band Years (1930-1950)

Part II: The Rock & Pop Years (1950-1970)

Buy tickets/get more info now