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Discussing The Role Of Jewish Composers In US Popular Music From 1950-1960

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Discussing the role of Jewish composers in US popular music from 1950 - 1960.

“Being Jewish, the Jews’ hunger to fit in, and their ease at doing so helped shape both the core of their identity and many of America’s greatest songs.” - Gluck 2013

Between 1880 and 1924, two and a half million Jews had reached breaking point. Fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe, they kissed their small town “shetls” goodbye and emigrated to America. America would completely reshape Jewish identity, and Jewish popular entertainment would take 20th century American popular music on a joy ride. Within the years leading up to 1950, Jewish composers, producers and performers were at the forefront of popular music in the US. However, what role did Judaism play in US popular music from 1950 - 1960?

It’s hard to imagine American popular song without the contributions of Jewish composers and lyricists. Names like Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” …show more content…

Why were they popular and how did they gain popularity? According to Ben Sidran (author of “There Was A Fire: Jews, Music and the American Dream) “Jews in America were able to access a popular imagination because they were, in some ways, experts at being outsiders wanting to be accepted.” Jewish people had a long tradition of this. The fact that they were able to take a look at society from an outsiders perspective and then shift to become part of that society, created a strong Jewish / American identity which made their hit songs relatable to the American public. A wonderful example of this are the songs of Irving

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