Bobby Short, The Life and Times of a Saloon Singer: (Panache Press) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The famed singer chronicles his rise from poor African-American performer to world-class celebrity, reminiscing about his Illinois childhood and early vaudeville career, as well as his encounters with musical greats, celebrities, and political leaders. 15,000 first printing.

From the Inside Flap

They call Bobby Short the quintessential New Yorker, the Astaire of saloon singers, an international icon of style and glamour. As he enters into his 27th year at the Hotel Carlyle in New York City, Short shares his life story with his fans in a memoir that is as entertaining as any live performance given by this charming musical legend. Black-and-white photographs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (September 26, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517595648
• ISBN-13: 978-0517595640
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #964,922 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bobby Short's life was an adventure. It still is., June 13, 1998

By	[e-mail] "Liz A." (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

Bobby Short, a quintessinal storyteller in song, is also capable of telling the story of his life in prose, in his own way, thank you very much.

Like his show, it's delightful. Bobby began playing piano in local saloons, went on to entertain in roadhouses, bars, nightclubs, cabarets, always with his eye on the audience. And now the "saloon singer" has performed for almost three decades in the Cafe Carlyle, not exactly your typical saloon ambiance. He learned a lot along the way.

First there's the talent. Then there's the inate sense of style, that sent a talented little boy in white tails, going off to make a living for his family by playing piano. He made a career for himself, honing his personal panache and learning from good and bad that came his way. The good included hearing jazz by the best, Art Tatum, Dorothy Donegal, Mabel Mercer, his idol, Duke Ellington. The bad was the bad all black performers knew in those days. Yet, he managed to meet and befriend the most sophisticated, talented, interesting people of every color. It all left its mark.

Bobby Short today, still has his focus on his audience, catching and keeping the attention. That is the important thing. It might be the secret of his success as a legendary interpreter of the American songbook.

-Elizabeth Ahlfors