Just as a show can often take years to make it from the page to the stage, this series of books took years to make it from conception to publication. Bill Galliford, of what was then Warner Chapell, requested a proposal from me in 2001 for a series of Broadway songbooks. He knew of my work as a music director, vocal coach, etc. I proposed that a series of books be created that included the following information about each song: vocal range; song type; character type; show, scene, and character information; era; sixteen-bar suggestions. Also, I proposed that all songs be in their original show keys and the piano parts be from the original scores. The proposal was well received with some modifications.
Originally, I thought I would be doing the engraving work for the songs, as well, but that was done by their in-house engraving department. By the time they were ready to move forward with the books, Alfred Publishing had bought the Warner Chapell division for which Galliford worked. In 2007, I was finally contracted to write the introduction and all the commentary for four books, Volume 1 (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, and Bass) which came out in 2008. My introduction was used for Volume 2, but the commentary was written by someone else. In January of 2009, I was hired to record the accompaniment CDs for the books, but I had to return home because of my mother’s impending death. My friend and colleague, Dennis Buck, completed the recordings.
Hal Leonard has now taken over distribution of the books.
