Mark Steyn, true to his nature, tends to prattle on and on in this rambling article. He has a point of course, about Jules Styne being one of the great American songwriters for show tunes in the 20th Century.
Just two of the many songs Jules either wrote or co-wrote:
“Let it Snow, Let it Snow!”
“Never, Never Land”.
I noticed the author has the same last name as one of his subjects. Hmm. Maybe they are distantly related.
Jules was from Britain.
I used to live a block from the Sunset Tower, an art deco high rise, when I was living on the Sunset Strip. At the time, I was unaware of the celebrities who had lived there, including John Wayne. It was in bad shape when I was living in the neighborhood, but it has since been converted into a luxury hotel.
Mark
Mark is older than he looks or acts. He is 61 y/o. But yes, as you said, he came along decades after these songs were popular. Some folks come to a private conclusion that most the popular music offered to their own generation is bilge or bunk. They allow some other type of music to grab their hearts and imaginations.
Just the other day, I met a Lyft driver, who looked about 35.
He was playing a DVD with music by The Delfonics, most famous for two songs: “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time?” and La,La, La, La Means I Love You”
Those were hits back when I was in Junior High, early 70’s.
The driver says he likes the harmonies and the beautiful mood they bring. He says too much music from his gen. is very negative or amateurish.
I probably haven’t heard Kitty Kallen since I was a kid in the 50s. Nice version with Harry James.