Articles by Joan Merrill
Alisa Clancy Served Cheer and Empathy with Her Morning Cup of Jazz During COVID, Then Signed Off
by Joan Merrill
Bay Area jazz lovers were shocked to learn that “the voice of jazz" would no longer help them greet the day with her blend of jazz and good humor in a voice like no other. After 35 years as KCSM's premiere host, Alisa Clancy announced her retirement after almost single-handedly keeping the radio station operating during the pandemic when most people were at home fearful and isolated. In an article “KCSM's Alisa Clancy Signs Off" for ...
Continue ReadingHow Two Stars Revived Their Careers at Concord Records
by Joan Merrill
From 1996 to 2002 I produced 15 shows--mostly on vocalists--or NPR's Jazz Profiles. I was fortunate to have as subjects two legendary vocalists--Ernestine Anderson and Rosemary Clooney--both of whom I interviewed in their homes in Seattle and Beverly Hills. In learning about their lives, I was struck by how they had seemed to be following similar paths. They were both born in 1928 and left home in their teens to tour with big bands. Both became hugely popular ...
Continue ReadingThe Great American Songbook Goes Legit—Thanks to Michael Feinstein
by Joan Merrill
A mutual friend introduced them and before the meeting was over, Michael Feinstein had a job. He was to sort out lyricist Ira Gershwin's extensive record collection. At the time, 1976, Feinstein was 20 and Gershwin 80. Perhaps the age difference was the basis for their friendship. Gershwin enjoyed the enthusiasm of the young pianist and Feinstein was inspired by the experience and wisdom of the older man. Whatever the case, the men became friends and ...
Continue ReadingWhat’s Harder to Write, Poetry or Lyrics?
by Joan Merrill
Lyrics are often compared to poetry. Are they a form of “the poetic art?" Are they less “artistic?" Poetry has a romantic aura to it, whereas lyric writing seems rather plebeian (to borrow a word from “Cry Me a River"). Writing lyrics doesn't have the cachet writing poetry has. It isn't as cool. And it certainly seems easier to write lyrics than music. Lyricists' names are sometimes not even mentioned when people rave about certain songs. Composers are ...
Continue ReadingDorothy Fields, The Only Major Female Songwriter Of The Golden Age
by Joan Merrill
Whenever there's a discussion of the great songwriters of the Golden Age of popular music (1920s to 1960s), we hear the names Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Harold Arlen, Harry Warren, Frank Loesser, George Gershwin, and a few others. You don't very often hear names Yip Harburg, PF Webster, Johnny Burke, Sammy Cahn, or Johnny Mercer. But you certainly don't hear the name Dorothy Fields, the only woman of the bunch. The lyricists seem to be given a ...
Continue ReadingAnd All That Motive: A Casey McKie Mystery
by Joan Merrill
The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of And All That Motive: A Casey McKie Mystery by Joan Merrill (CreateSpace, 2014). Who the hell was calling me this early on a Sunday morning? After a night of music and drinking. Jesus. “Casey McKie," I mumbled, not hiding my annoyance. “Casey, Casey, can you hear me? I need you to come over--shee-it--how do you work this goddamned thing--fuck it." And ...
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