They All Sang My Songs : The Life and Times of Jack Lawrence

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Summary: A SURPRISE PLEASURE
Review: Jack Lawrence was a name I had always known, but never really knew. I saw Ray Striklyn play Tennessee Williams at the JACK LAWRENCE THEATER. I had seen the Broadway show, I HAD A BALL written, in part by JACK LAWRENCE. I knew the words for the song TENDERLY probably better than my own name. Who wrote the song? JACK LAWRENCE. So it was then, when I saw a mention of Mr.Lawrence's autobiography THEY ALL SANG MY SONGS, I decided to take a chance and buy it. What a terrific decision! Lawrence's book is a memoir of over ninety years, and in those years and in his pages, Mr. Lawrence covers the immigration experience, World War Two, the big band era and Hollywood and Broadway, all with a delightful writing style that makes you feel as though you are sitting with him in his country home, a drink in your hand and listening as he spins his delightful tales. His anecdotes are priceless, his gossip juicy, his insight into the world of popular music enlightening and his view of the world fascinating. Added to all of the above, and possibly even more important, depending on who is reading this book, is the story of Mr.Lawrence's personal life; his coming out when the country was even more homophobic than it is now, his lovers and, finally, his pride in who and what he is. If you are looking for Proust, look elsewhere, but if you are looking to spend some delightful hours with a terrific story teller, look no further. JACK LAWRENCE is your man! After reading this charming book, he certainly is mine!

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Summary: A wealth of anecdotal stories drawn from an unusual life
Review: Jack Lawrence was a successful song writer whose melodies and lyrics helped to launch more than a dozen top show business stars including Frank Sinatra ("All or Nothing at All"), Bobby Darin ("Beyond the Sea"), Rosemary Clooney ("Tenderly"), Dinah Shore ("Yes, My Darling Daughter"), and The Ink Spots ("If I Didn't Care"). In his autobiography, Lawrence describes his Jewish upbringing in Brooklyn, his difficult and distressing realization that he was gay, and his show business career ups and downs. Readers will also have an insider's view of the music industry's Big Band era, as well as Lawrence's personal and professional relationships with the top performers of his day. They All Sang My Songs: The Times Of My Life is a memoir laced with humor, candor, and a wealth of anecdotal stories drawn from an unusual life. Highly recommended reading, They Sang All My Songs is enhanced with many of Lawrence's lyrics and the stories behind their creation as well as the inclusion of two 16-page photo inserts.