ISBN: 9780670018291

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadwayas best-loved stars From her breakout rendition of George Gershwinas aI Got Rhythma in 1930 to her triumphant performan… More...

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadwayas best-loved stars From her breakout rendition of George Gershwinas aI Got Rhythma in 1930 to her triumphant performance as "Gypsy"as Mama Rose in 1959, Ethel Merman defined Broadway stardom for two generations of music lovers. Mermanas singing voiceabrassy, penetrating, and undeniably Americanahas transcended genre and era to become a cultural icon. As an entertainer she burned with unstoppable energy. Offstage she was the original diva, a woman who knew what she wanted and brooked no interference. Her spats and frequently off-color zingers have become part of theater lore. In this entertaining and authoritative biography, Brian Kellow traces Mermanas life from her childhood in Queens, New York, through her three decades at the peak of Broadway celebrity. In an era dominated by outsized personalities and egos, none was more vibrant and powerful than Mermanas, yet beneath the tough-dame image was an enormously vulnerable and often lonely woman. Kellowas book, which includes recollections from more than 120 of Mermanas friends, colleagues, and family members, stands as the definitive biography and an affectionate portrait of an unforgettable star. Fans of Broadway history and of the great Ethel Merman will find Kellowas biography an irresistible read. Ethel Merman: A Life Kellow, Brian, Viking Books<

ISBN: 9780670018291

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadwayas best-loved stars From her breakout rendition of George Gershwinas aI Got Rhythma in 1930 to her triumphant performance … More...

A biography equal to the outsized personality of one of Broadwayas best-loved stars From her breakout rendition of George Gershwinas aI Got Rhythma in 1930 to her triumphant performance as "Gypsy"as Mama Rose in 1959, Ethel Merman defined Broadway stardom for two generations of music lovers. Mermanas singing voiceabrassy, penetrating, and undeniably Americanahas transcended genre and era to become a cultural icon. As an entertainer she burned with unstoppable energy. Offstage she was the original diva, a woman who knew what she wanted and brooked no interference. Her spats and frequently off-color zingers have become part of theater lore. In this entertaining and authoritative biography, Brian Kellow traces Mermanas life from her childhood in Queens, New York, through her three decades at the peak of Broadway celebrity. In an era dominated by outsized personalities and egos, none was more vibrant and powerful than Mermanas, yet beneath the tough-dame image was an enormously vulnerable and often lonely woman. Kellowas book, which includes recollections from more than 120 of Mermanas friends, colleagues, and family members, stands as the definitive biography and an affectionate portrait of an unforgettable star. Fans of Broadway history and of the great Ethel Merman will find Kellowas biography an irresistible read. Media > Book, [PU: Viking Press]<

ISBN: 0670018295

More than twenty years after her death, Ethel Merman continues to set the standard for American musical theater. The stories about the supremely talented, famously strong-willed, fearsome… More...

More than twenty years after her death, Ethel Merman continues to set the standard for American musical theater. The stories about the supremely talented, famously strong-willed, fearsomely blunt, and terrifyingly exacting woman are stuff of legend. But who was Ethel Agnes Z immermann, really? Brian Kellow’s definitive biography of the great Merman is superb, and the first account to examine both the artist and the woman with as much critical rigor as empathy. Through dozens of interviews with her colleagues, friends, and family members, Kellow traces the arc of her life and her thirty-year singing career to reveal many surprising facts about Broadway’s biggest star. arts and literature,arts music and photography,biographies,broadway and musicals,composers and musicians,entertainers,humor and entertainment,performing arts,specific groups,theater Entertainers, Viking Adult<