THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM
Michael Feinstein’s Latest Album
‘ G e r s h w i n C o u n t r y ’ R e l e a s e s T h i s M a r c h Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Art Streiber
Fans of Grammy- and Emmy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein and of George and Ira Gershwin will be elated that Feinstein’s latest album, “Gershwin Country,” will be officially released on March 11, 2022! This exceptional collection of Gershwin songs—reimagined— is executive produced by Feinstein’s longtime friend and collaborator Liza Minnelli and will also delight country music fans as the album boasts an all-star lineup of some of country music’s greatest stars, such as Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash and many others.
George Gershwin (1898–1937) not only composed some of the 20th century’s most important orchestral works (“Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris”), he also wrote the groundbreaking English-language opera “Porgy & Bess” (including the hit “Summertime”) before finding great success in popular music, collaborating with his brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin (1896–1983). Together, the brothers would go on to write some of the most influential songs of the era, forever changing the landscape of American musical theater. In 1924, the brothers collaborated on the stage musical comedy “Lady Be Good” (“Fascinating Rhythm” and “Oh, Lady Be Good!”) followed by “Oh, Kay!,” “Funny Face” (1927) and “Strike Up the Band” (1927). Later, with the rise of musical films, the Gershwins brought their talents to Hollywood—writing more than two dozen scores for the stage and screen before George’s untimely death at 38. Gershwin’s influence on Feinstein cannot be overstated. “As a person who became besotted with [George] Gershwin long ago, I cannot be objective of his work, nor of his brother Ira’s, for it all goes too deep into my soul,” says the singer and pianist. “From the time I first heard them decades ago, the songs have felt personal, and as I have sung them through the years, they have become multifaceted diamonds, revealing new angles of truth and depth with every exploration.” At 20, Feinstein began a six-year tenure with Ira, serving as his assistant and archivist, among other roles. That pivotal experience informed the musician’s career—inspiring his broadly acclaimed 1987 debut, “Pure Gershwin,” and encouraging him to become the preeminent educator, archivist, interpreter and ambassador of the Great American Songbook. As an extension of his work, Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Foundation (headquartered in Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts) which works to preserve and elevate America’s rich musical legacy. He also serves on the Library of Congress’s National Recording Preservation Board, an
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2022-01-21 4:34 PM
