Mister Jolson and all that Jazz

In his book, which is an appreciation of the popular art, the author takes us on a fleeting excursion through the evolution of 'pop' - from ragtime to hot jazz and in to the swing era - a fascinating insight into the early Broadway Musical and the birth of the 'talkies'.The emergence of the Great American Song Book, and the influence of Al Jolson's career on popular singing; his relationship with the principal song writers, and how he inspired the great vocal stars who followed, including Ethel Waters, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra.