The Song is You
Jerome Kem on Broadway

From 1903 to his untimely death in 1945, Jerome kern had a greater influence on the development of the Broadway Musical than any other single composer. It was kern's "They Didn't Believe Me" that inspired a young George Gershwin to write his first song. Richard Rodgers credited kern with giving the American Musical its unique "voice.9" And every lyricist who worked with him (from Oscar Hammerstein to Johnny Mercer) spoke of him as both a beloved collaborator and an inspired teacher. From his early princess Theatre musicals like LEAVE IT TO JANE to the landmark musical SHOW BOAT, Jerome Kern literally created what we now think of as the American Broadway Musical while composing songs like "Make Believe," "Look For the Silver Lining," "Smoke Gets in Yours Eyes," "I've Told Ever Little Star," "till the Clouds Roll By" and "All The Things You Are."