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Afterglow Jazz and American Song with host David Brent Johnson

Afterglow is a weekly one-hour radio program of jazz and American popular song hosted by David Brent Johnson and produced by WFIU Public Radio. Afterglow airs Friday at 10 p.m. on WFIU HD1.

April 14, 2007

The Alec Wilder Songbook

This week on Afterglow it’s “The Alec Wilder Songbook,” in honor of the composer’s centennial. Writer of “A Child Is Born,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Who Can I Turn To,” “While We’re Young,” and many other songs that have achieved status as minor classics in the Great American Songbook canon, Wilder was also the author of the book American Popular Song , a study of the great songwriters of the 1900-1950 era. Wilder was often described as a sort of rumpled, East-Coast-academic looking fellow, and he was part of the Algonquin crowd in New York City; in addition to songs, he also wrote quite a few classical compositions. We’ll hear interpretations of his work from Mildred Bailey, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Mabel Mercer, and others.

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  • Jon Plante
    Esther - I have lots of info regarding Alec's music - both the American Popular Song and his lesser known chmber music - you can contact me at jplante22@yahoo.com - Thanks - Jon Plante
  • I'm interested in Alec Wilder tunes. I'd like to buy some cds with vocalists doing his compositions. Thank you for this website. Any info on Alec Wilder or leads to his recordings would be appreciated.

    Esther Haynes
    Vocalist
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