They Wrote the Songs: Jewish Pop Superstars of the 1970s

Guest speaker: pianist/musicologist Jordan Klapman

Bette Midler exploded onto the 1970s music scene as The Divine Miss M. Neil Diamond (aka the Jewish Elvis) created one of the most enduring popular music catalogs. Carly Simon’s hip, slinky style mirrored the feminist movement, and Barry Manilow is the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time. These influential singer/ songwriters changed our conception of pop music, creating a fresh, in-between sound that was honest and sentimental, sensual yet playful, and to this day, some of the catchiest tunes ever written.

Join us in-person, on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recordings!

Mondays: October 21, 28; November 4, (no event on Remembrance Day), November 18.
1:00-2:30pm
Join us in-person on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recordings!
Series: $50; drop-in: $16
There is no class on Monday November 11.       

Monday October 21 – Bette Midler

Monday October 28 – Neil Diamond
Monday November 4 – Carly Simon

Monday November 18 – Barry Manilow

Jordan Klapman is a pianist, bandleader, music director, recording producer, and popular music educator. Since 1977, he has specialized in the performance of 20th century popular music, including ragtime, traditional jazz, Dixieland, 1920s/30s salon music, Big Band, The Great American Songbook, Broadway, and klezmer. He can be heard in music festivals, jazz clubs, concert halls, and theatres across Canada and beyond. Jordan has appeared at Roy Thomson Hall, Koerner Hall, Birdland in New York City, on CBC Radio and television, and as a radio show co-host on JazzFM with the late Jeff Healey. Jordan teaches courses on the appreciation of 20th century popular music at many adult education institutions, synagogues and Jewish organizations across the city, including of course, at the Miles Nadal JCC, where he is always a crowd favourite. MNjcc lectures have included Crazy Rhythm: The Music of the Jazz Age; Hollywood’s Oscar-Winning Songs; Fascinating Rhythms: The Gershwin Brothers and He’s the Top: The Sophisticated Songs of Cole Porter. Virtually, Jordan has brought us You’ve Got a Friend: The Hits of Carole King, as well as series Broadway’s Legendary Jewish Composers; Broadway Dream Teams: The Best Jewish Songwriting Partnerships; Roots, Rhythm, and Resilience: Musical Intersections of Black and Jewish Diasporas, The Rat Pack: Kings of Cool and last fall’s multi-access series The Birth of Jewish Pop Rock. We are delighted to welcome Jordan back to our building this fall! For more information, visit http://www.jordanklapman.com/

Don’t miss our December 12 Jewish Pop Stars of the 1970s tribute concert in the Al Green Theatre featuring The Jordan Klapman Quintet – the perfect complement to this lecture series!