Nathaniel Shilkret

This autobiography of Nathaniel Shilkret is an entertaining account of the professional life of one of the most influential musicians of the first half of the 20th century. Nathaniel Shilkret was often heralded as a musical genius by the leading media of his day, yet his monumental accomplishments are almost totally unknown today. Included in this book are a rare selection of media and photos, and an audio CD illustrating the highlights of Shilkret's prestigious career. Numerous anecdotes of his encounters with such prominent figures as Isadora Duncan, Gustav Mahler, Russ Columbo, and George Gershwin reveal the breadth and intimacy of Shilkret's influence in the creative community of his day. Several appendices identify the author's more than 400 compositions, his hundreds of radio broadcasts, and a list of the more than 240 motion pictures he was involved in producing. The discography and bibliography make this work an authoritative reference tool not only for a nostalgic audience, but also for music historians and scholars.