Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook

2012     6 x 54, 3 x 54 min.     in production     Color, B&W: HD     English

A Hudson West Production

Produced, Directed, and Edited by
Amber Edwards

Co-Producer and Director of Photography
Dave Davidson

Executive Producer
Ken Bloom

While chronicling Feinstein’s fabulous but exhausting life on the road—150 performances a year, all over the country – Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook delves into cultural history to reveal how popular music reflected different eras in the 20th century and shaped the style, attitude and self-image of America for more than a century.

Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook is a dynamic, documentary-style road trip and cultural primer, with Michael Feinstein as the leader of an expedition through the glorious history of American popular song.

Viewers follow him both on-stage and off, hear him interpret great standards, listen in on personal stories about the songwriters and entertainers he’s known and worked with over three decades, and accompany him on his quest to find and preserve the treasures of classic American popular music. Rare archival audio and film footage featuring entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Maya Angelou, and Duke Ellington among others combine to reveal the social and historical forces behind the music. Filled with generous portions of live performance, this series offers both an intimate portrait of a unique entertainer, and a history of 20th century pop culture.

“…a quirky, thoughtful mélange
of history and biography”
– The New York Times

… a superb three‐part series.”
– The Seattle Times