Fred Reif

All Of Me - A History of the Musicians From Saginaw, Michigan 1850s - 1950s Fred Reif

Anyone interested in American music will find this newly uncovered material fascinating. An impressive number of Saginaw area musicians and composers have gone on to national and international fame in a variety of genres. For example, Gerald Marks co-wrote an American classic, "All Of Me." Danny Russo, co-wrote another gem, "Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye." Isham Jones led one of the most popular orchestras in the country in the 1920s. The great hot jazz banjo player, Howdy Quicksell, later moved to Saginaw. Jazz legend Sonny Stitt likewise hailed from Saginaw, as did the legendary Stevie Wonder and Motown Orchestra leader, Choker Campbell. There are also about 185 archival photos dating back to 1911 and up to the 1950s. The majority of these have never been published. The book will occupy a valuable niche in the history of American Music by shining a light on a creative community until now largely overlooked by historians and authors.