AN ODYSSEY OF JAZZ, CABARET, SHOWBIZ EXTRAVAGANZA, MYSTERY, STARS BIOGRAPHIES, AND GLAMOROUS STARS ON A COSMIC LEVEL!

Released on = April 26, 2007, 7:56 am

Press Release Author = Etienne Leroux/Times Square Press

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = Just imagine 800 photos, 100 charts, 6,000 names and entries
and the most provocative personal histories of stars and divas in one single
volume!! In addition to the history of American underground music, politics in
music, artists $ market value, tips and advice on what to do before you book a show
at a venue!?

Press Release Body = AN ODYSSEY OF JAZZ, CABARET, SHOWBIZ EXTRAVAGANZA, MYSTERY,
STARS BIOGRAPHIES, AND GLAMOROUS STARS ON A COSMIC LEVEL!

JUST PUBLISHED: "SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS, BEST SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS FROM
1606 TO THE PRESENT": Volume IV of the series World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret,
Music and Entertainment.

Just imagine 800 photos, 100 charts, 6,000 names and entries and the most
provocative personal histories of stars and divas in one single volume!! In addition
to the history of American underground music, politics in music, artists $ market
value, tips and advice on what to do before you book a show at a venue!? Hard to
believe. But it is a fact. The Federation of American Musicians, Singers and
Performing Artists (FAMSPA) just published the fourth volume "SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS,
BEST SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT" of its
encyclopedic series of 10 volumes on Jazz, cabaret, music, entertainment and
performing arts.


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS AMERICA'S EARLIEST SONGWRITER

With great interest I read the 3 previous volumes of the World Who's Who in Jazz,
Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. It took me a while to go through the 2,200 pages
of this massive work, but I enjoyed it tremendously. De facto it is academic but
also extremely fun and entertaining, because on one side the author analyzes in
depth the fabric, roots, origin of music and its pioneers from the 17th century to
the present day, and on another side, he hits you with unknown bizarre stories,
lifestyles, facts and gossip about stars and headliners that could and would change
the way we conceive them or think they are who they are!
For instance, did you know that Benjamin Franklin was America's earliest songwriter
and lyricist? I did not know until I read about it in "Showbiz, Pioneers, Best
Singers, Musicians and Entertainers from 1606 to The Present", volume IV of the
World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. According to the book "in
1667, the English religious songs were largely replaced by "The Bay Psalter" when it
was officially and dearly adopted by Benjamin Franklin who began to write the first
American songs and ballads. In that sense, Franklin could be considered as the first
American songwriter, composer and lyricist, as well as the first publisher of a book
of American songs and music sheets. The publication of Franklin's book gave birth to
the first "American Folkloric Operas" also referred to as "Popular Operas".

FASCINATING STORIES AND WEALTH OF INFORMATION
The Who's Who historical and thematic chapters are full with fascinating stories and
suspense about the early days of American music. Such as the story of the
Underground Movement; according to the book (Pages 1980-1981) "The Underground: The
Underground Railroad organization helped a considerable number of slaves to escape
to other states. The underground organization developed a "know how" for escapees, a
sort of an instruction manual and a survival guide. The basic instructions were:
1-The slaves who are on the run should try to escape only by night; 2-The escapees
should exclusively use hand lights. Preferably, moonlight; 2-The escapees should use
swamps, rivers, lakes, water to avoid the dogs which were chasing them, because dogs
could not smell them in the water and follow their tracks; 3-Trucks and preferably,
wagons should be used by escapees if they were able to hide in the back of the
vehicle.. This is how and why early tunes, popular songs and "Negro Spirituals"
were called "The Gospel Train", "The Railroad", "Wade in the Water" and "Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot". The latest tune was directly linked to the Underground Railroad. "
SINGING IN MYSTERIOUS CODES
Another fascinating story in the book rotates around Singing in codes. (From Pages
1980-1981): ["Another extremely interesting aspect of the early songs of the
Afro-American slaves was the expression of feelings, emotions and shared concerns
and places "in code". For instance, Ohio or more exactly, the northern side of Ohio
river, (Their favorite place, for some reason,) was called "Jordan". A "free
country", was called "the promised land", "my home" or "Sweet Canaan". Any
organization or group which tried back then to help the salves was referred to as
the "Underground Railroad" or just the "Railroad".]
MIX BIOGRAPHIES, PUBLICISTS STRATEGIES AND MILK BATH AND YOU GET A FIRST RATE FRONT
PAGE STORY.
Although the book is traditional in its concept and very academic in its
biographical narrative style, Volume IV is fun! In some chapters, the contents are
hilarious. For instance the story of Anna Held: The talk of the town and the milk
bath gossip. (Pages 2008-2009). The story goes like this:
"Her charming, suggestive delivery and outrageous French accent made a tremendous
hit, and on stage, she had to sing several encores. After the show, a wild group of
admirers (no doubt paid off by Ziegfeld) unhooked her carriage from its horses and
pulled her through the streets. Most critics were less than impressed by Held\'s
performance, but she was the talk of New York. Whenever she was photographed, Held
preferred poses that showcased her petite waist .Always in search of a fresh
publicity angle, Ziegfeld got an idea from the milky bath mixture Held used to
condition her skin. He informed the press that Miss Anna Held bathed in several
gallons of fresh milk every day, and reinforced the story by saying he had returned
one shipment from a local dairy because it had gone sour. The dairy owner sued
Ziegfeld for libel and the hoax was eventually revealed - but Held\'s name made
headlines every step of the way. At its time, the milk bath incident made
titillating headlines for weeks and supposedly started a brief fad; an auspicious
beginning for Ziegfeld\'s aggressive publicity blitz for Anna Held as a daring
European performer. \"The name of the young woman became as well known in this
country as the name of the President,\" the New York World declared a year after her
arrival."
It is indeed a very informative and astonishing accomplishment, carefully and
intelligently crafted by FAMSPA, the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and
Performing Artists. The author, Dr. Maximillien de Lafayette deserves a lot of
credits for this gigantic and meaningful effort. It enriches the universal library
of music and performing arts.
I was fortunate to receive a review copy of Volume IV. I could not put the book
down. It is really amazing to learn about the wealth of the world of Jazz and
cabaret, musical treasures hidden from many readers and the captivating secretive
history of entertainment and underground music as illustrated by the author. This
volume is a gold mine. The layout and design of the book are formidable. The
contents are overwhelming. The in-depth articles are astonishing; so many
information, charts, biographies, comparative tables and substantial analyses. And
as always, the covers of the volumes of the Who's Who are splendid and intriguing.
This time, the front cover of Volume IV is more than striking. It is sublime,
because the very expressive photo of the American diva Peggy Judy on the front cover
is a knock out, a masterpiece. The background is mysterious, her face glowing like a
goddess from a Dante's novel and her French Can Can outfit is beyond description. I
was told, the mystique of showbiz and Hollywood golden era flair are part of the
personality of Ms. Peggy Judy, and it shows very well. She is perfect for the cover,
hand-made for showbiz drama! Flip the book and you will be taken by the gallery of
photos of wonderful singers from around the world; starting with jazz diva NICHAUD
FITZGIBBON in Melbourne Australia, passing by Manhattan, New York and finishing with
modern Jazz star, Stephanie Jordan in New Orleans, Louisiana. The very attractive
ladies who appeared on the covers of Volume IV are accomplished artists and enjoy
the esteem of their peers. They are seven. Each one of the seven Jazz singers is a
class act. Who are they? Here there are:

THE SEVEN GRACEFUL DIVAS

1-Zola who is originally from South Africa; she is an international singer with a
multi-varied cultural background and the daughter of a comedy and theater star who
performed at a Jewish Ghetto during the Nazi Occupation of Poland. Ms. Zola is an
award-winning singer with many hits and first spots on international charts and
music billboards
2-Nichaud Fitzgibbon, a well-known Jazz singer in Australia and the United States.
She performed at prestigious concerts and festivals, and recently she was the
leading star of a tribute concert to honor Doris Day. By the way, she is stunning.
3-Ms. Maria Gentile winner of numerous Jazz and Cabaret awards. One of her Albums
was nominated in volume III of the World Who's Who as one of the best 300 Albums of
the year.
4-A very lovely American artist by the name of Irene Soderberg appears on the back
cover in a very regal and sophisticated manner, dressed like a super duper contessa
from the early glorious cabaret days of Paris and Berlin. Ms. Soderberg released
several albums. She is known for her perfect choice of tunes and vivacious
repertoires.
5-Ms. Stephanie Jordan in her silk green dress catches your eyes. She reminds me of
the flashy dashy days of Josephine Baker at the Lido in Paris. Ms. Jordan toured
Europe and the United States on many occasions and enjoyed an enormous success. In a
paragraph of the book, the author referred to her as the classy lady of modern Jazz.

6-Ms. Antoinette Montague who released a well crafted and heart felt album Pretty
Blues is among the honorees who graced the cover of volume IV. De Lafayette, author
of this magnetizing work wrote "Antoinette Montague is a treasure. She is warm.she
has depth.she is powerful and she will steal your heart.

It is so refreshing to see a rainbow of wonderful female artists of a great talent
gracing the cover of the book. I loved this new volume. It contains wealth of
information not readily available elsewhere. It is a splendid undertaking. A
treasure!
Etienne Leroux and Ruth Sielberg, Syndicated Columnists, London Monthly Herald.


Web Site = http://www.federationofamericanmusicianssingersandperformingartists.org

Contact Details = letienneleroux@aol.com

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