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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGOODMAN, Al(b 12 Aug. 1890, Nikopol, Russia; d 10 Jan. '72, NYC) Pianist, arranger, composer, conductor. Studied at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, played in vaudeville, cinemas; conducted for Al Jolson, the Shubert theatre's musicals, many Broadway shows; on soundtrack of The Jazz Singer '29 with Jolson, the first talking picture. Songs were effective in shows but were not hits outside theatre; best-known was "When Hearts Are Young' with Sigmund Romberg. Worked on many radio shows '30s-40s, incl. own shows with orchestra, guest singers, his orchestral arrangements of pop songs, standards always elegant in craftsmanship. Many records over the years, into the '50s on obscure labels, all long out of print. |