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For many years, I've always been attached to what they call the Great American Songbook, and Kern was a great leader of that because he had the classical training of Europe. He impressed all the greatest composers, like Cole Porter and Gershwin. They couldn't believe he was writing the songs he was writing.
Tony Bennett
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Tony Bennett reflects on the influence of the Great American Songbook and the exceptional talent of composer Jerome Kern.

In this quote, Tony Bennett emphasizes the importance of the Great American Songbook and highlights Jerome Kern's significant role as a composer within that tradition. Kern's classical training from Europe allowed him to create music that astonished his contemporaries, including great composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, showcasing the integration of diverse musical influences in American songwriting.

Themes

MusicSongwritingInfluenceGreat American SongbookCreativity

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote during a lecture on American music history.

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