We have a detailed history of Tin Pan Alley thanks to invaluable information from the Historic Districts Council in their “Brief-ish History of Tin Pan Alley” written in 2008, and Michael Minn in his piece “Tin Pan Alley”, part of his “New York City” photography collection project. As both accounts cover both overlapping and different information, we present them both below. Many thanks to them both for their thorough and dogged research and insightful presentation.
Madison Square Park Holiday Tree Lighting!
Wed, Dec 06
|Madison Sq. Park - No. Reflecting Pool
Did you know the first public Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the country’s history took place in Madison Square Park? Join us for “Tin Pan Alley Holiday Songs” featuring Gabrielle Lee and Alvin Hough, Jr.! Wednesday, December 6, 5:30-6 pm (caroling 4-5:30 pm)
Time & Location
Dec 06, 2023, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Madison Sq. Park - No. Reflecting Pool, 11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
About the event
The Festive Madison Square Park Conservancy Holiday Tree lighting, presented in partnership with the Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project, continues this year marking the 111th year anniversary, which occurred in 1912 -a time where some of the best jazz creations began. All the great classics come out of a jazz sensibility and holiday classics are no different. Honoring the rhythms of early 1900's jazz during the most wonderful time of the year -this special performance presents a short selection of holiday standards with traditional arrangements of Yuletide favorites and more in Tin Pan Alley fashion. Featuring guest vocalist Gabrielle Lee with Broadway Pianist and Musical Director, Alvin Hough Jr.
GABRIELLE LEE is at home in Theater, TV/Film, Concert & Cabaret performance, American Songbook, and Commercial Modeling. She has provided backing vocals and featured performances with the New York Pops, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Ray Charles Orchestra, Aloe Blacc, Angelique Kidjo, Common, Steely Dan, Marvin Hamlisch, Natalie Cole among others, and began her career touring the country with the late Harry Belafonte. She holds title roles in Broadway National, Europe tours, Off-Broadway, and Regional Theater including the World Premiere of “Bricktop” Legend of the Jazz Age (co-creator), Intimate Apparel, Chicken & Biscuits, Little Shop of Horrors, All Night Strut, Once on This Island, Beehive, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Showboat, Ain’t Misbehavin, Dreamgirls and more. Television Guest Star: Blue Bloods, Bull, FBI, God Friended Me, Madam Secretary, The Affair, Difficult People, Law & Order. Film: Unremarkable Death of a Man (Sundance Films ’24), HBO Max 27 Candles, Marci X, Double Platinum. Gabrielle has seen success with her one-woman show in New York, regionally, and worldwide -celebrating early 20th Century Blackbirds, African American influencers of Tin Pan Alley and American Songbook, and the songwriters who gave them wings. Gabrielle was a featured performer on the Inaugural Tin Pan Alley Day 2021 Ceremony, and is a committee member of the Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project. SAG/AFTRA AEA, Dramatist Guild, WGE IG: gabrielleshines http://gabriellelee.com/
ALVIN HOUGH, JR.
Originally from Washington DC, Alvin started playing piano when he was 5 years old. Classically trained, Alvin has performed at the Kennedy Center, at the Capitol for Mother Teresa’s Congressional Medal of Honor Ceremony and at the White House. Alvin holds two degrees in meteorology from Harvard and Georgia Tech. Broadway: New York, New York; The Piano Lesson (featuring Samuel L. Jackson), where he provided both music direction and original incidental music; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, the recent revivals of Once on This Island and The Color Purple, and Motown. Alvin has worked on numerous films and TV series including: "Annie Live!" on NBC, "Spirited", "Lyle, Lyle Crocodile", South Park 25th Anniversary commercial series, "Schmigadoon 2", and "Vivo". Love to his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Samuel (6) and Camille (4)!
THE TIN PAN ALLEY AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC PROJECT commemorates and invigorates a living legacy: the birthplace of American Popular Music and the modern music industry on West 28th Street in New York City. In 2019, Tin Pan Alley became an official New York City landmark with the designation of 47-55 West 28th Street by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission following years of advocacy by the Tin Pan Alley Project among many others. www.tinpanalley.nyc