Something Wonderful: Exploring the Great American Songbook

In this episode, John and Adam explore the extraordinary career of Barbra Streisand, the Brooklyn girl who wanted to be an actress, took only one singing lesson, and became one of the defining voices of the 20th century. The hosts trace Streisand’s rise from her childhood moviegoing days at Loew’s Kings Theatre to her early nightclub triumphs at The Lion and the Bon Soir, where her unmistakable vo...

In this episode, John and Adam explore one of the most consequential—and unlikely—relationships in the history of the American musical: the mentorship and friendship between Oscar Hammerstein II and Stephen Sondheim. What began as a chance family connection grew into a formative bond that bridged two eras of musical theater and reshaped the Great American Songbook. The hosts trace how Hammerstein...

In this episode, John and Adam explore the timeless appeal of Perry Como, the unflappable crooner whose calm presence and smooth baritone made him one of America’s most cherished entertainers. From his beginnings as a small-town barber to his rise as a recording and television icon, Como embodied a gentler, more effortless kind of stardom—earning him the nickname “Mr. Relaxation.” The hosts trace...

In this episode, John and Adam celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Ella Fitzgerald, whose voice helped define—and in many ways create—what we now call the Great American Songbook. From her humble beginnings in Yonkers to her breakout performance at the Apollo Theater, the hosts trace Ella’s rise from a shy teenager to one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Through st...

In this second episode, John and Adam turn their attention to Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, the dynamic duo who became two of the most devoted champions of the Great American Songbook. With warmth, wit, and a deep appreciation for musical craft, the hosts trace the couple’s journey from television stardom in the 1950s to their enduring role as torchbearers for the standards that defined American...

In this inaugural episode, John and Adam kick off Something Wonderful by revisiting the golden age of American musical theater through the legacy of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Blending scholarship, humor, and music history, they trace how the duo revolutionized Broadway by integrating story and song—transforming “musical comedy” into true “musical theater.” From Oklahoma! and Carousel to South Pacif...