Capital Acts
Washington DC Performing Arts
Author: Stephen Moore, Johnny Holliday and Charles David Young
The vibrant, illustrated history of Washington, DC's performing arts, showcasing influential theater, music, film, radio, and television figures from 1790 to the present.
Paperback
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
The vibrant, illustrated history of Washington, DC's performing arts, showcasing influential theater, music, film, radio, and television figures from 1790 to the present.
Description
A comprehensive entertainment history of the Washington, DC area's captivating theater, film, and music artists. Includes esteemed figures from the masterful John Philip Sousa to the provocative Root Boy Slim. Legends such as Al Jolson, Duke Ellington, Helen Hayes, Patsy Cline, The Slickee Boys, Mark Russell, Pick Temple, The Langley Punks, Eva Cassidy, Billy Eckstine, Danny Gatton, Tommy Lepson and hundreds of others populate this vibrant tapestry of talent and innovation that thrived or continues in the area. Illustrated with Index."
Critic Reviews
"In these pages Moore, (and co-authors Holliday, Lorenz, and Young) give readers a panoramic look at the wide variety of arts that have either premiered or flourished in DC and written with warmth and irresistible energy throughout, regularly picking the perfect anecdotes and vignettes to bring DC's artistic history to life.
Fans of the scene shouldn't miss this book, and its sheer energy will make it of interest far beyond the beltway. A lively and richly detailed story of Washington, DCs artistic history." - Kirkus Reviews
"A treasure trove of life stories, legends, and long-lost lore that for the first time fully illuminates the richness and depth of the DC area music scene." - Pete Kennedy/The Kennedys
"Several of the narratives of this historical research and contemporary interviews will be familiar - who doesn't know about the Muppets? - but some of it, very likely most of it, will be new to you. Or, if the name is familiar, you might not be aware about the local origins of seminal acts that got their starts in the Washington area, the world-famous Ringling Brothers circus and entertainment pioneer Al Jolson being examples.
You will also learn about some of the talented artists DC claims as its own but never made it into the show business mainstream despite undeniable and astonishing talent. Danny Gatton, for instance. And John Fahey. And Eva Cassidy. The list goes on." (From the Foreword) - Buzz McCLain, former critic with The Washington Post.
About the Author
Stephen Moore is a music writer, musician, and retired Georgetown University Director of Advanced Research Computing (ARC). He has co-authored seven books, including All Roads Lead to the Birchmere, John Duffey's Bluegrass Life, Johnny Holliday: From Rock to Jock, Helen Hayes: A Bio-Bibliography, Cerphe's Up, and Hoop Tales: Maryland University Men's Basketball. Johnny Holliday, a top-rated DJ in the golden era of Top 40 radio, had #1 ratings in major cities and covered Olympic Games for ABC. He also appeared in numerous TV shows, commercials, and musical theater productions. He's been the University of Maryland's basketball and football "Voice of The Terps" for decades. Young began music writing at George Mason University, covering Danny Gatton, Nils Lofgren, Emmylou Harris and others for Unicorn Times. He's contributed to Stereo Review, TV Guide, and Entertainment Weekly, and wrote CD booklet notes for DC musicians.
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