Jerome Kern (1885–1945) is widely regarded as one of the master architects of American musical theater and popular song.  His work bridged the gap between the operetta‑influenced stage music of the early 20th century and the more emotionally integrated, story‑driven Broadway style that would later flourish under composers like Rodgers & Hammerstein.  With a gift for graceful melody and harmonic sophistication, Kern wrote music that remains timeless.

Born in New York City, Kern’s early training in Europe exposed him to classical traditions that he later blended with American jazz and popular idioms.  By the 1910s, he had become a leading composer for the Princess Theatre musicals—small, innovative productions that demanded character‑driven songs rather than spectacle. These shows helped establish Kern’s reputation as a composer who wrote music to serve the story rather than overshadow it.

Kern’s most enduring achievement came in 1927 with Show Boat, created with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.  Its fusion of compelling narrative, complex characters, and memorable songs—such as “Ol’ Man River” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”—marked a turning point in American musical theater.  Show Boat demonstrated that musicals could address serious themes while maintaining artistic coherence, laying the groundwork for the Golden Age of Broadway.

Throughout his career, Kern collaborated with many of the era’s leading lyricists, including Dorothy Fields, Otto Harbach, P. G. Wodehouse, and Ira Gershwin.  His catalog includes enduring standards such as “All the Things You Are,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”—songs distinguished by their lyrical elegance and melodic depth.

Despite his enormous influence, Kern remained modest and quietly dedicated to the craft. By the time of his passing in 1945, he had reshaped the sound of the American musical and left a songbook that continues to define the Great American Songbook.  His work endures not only for its beauty but for its foundational role in elevating the musical as an art form.

a)    Ol’ Man River (Showboat) (1936) (Paul Robeson) (Irving Berlin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh9WayN7R-s

b)    Can’t Help Lovin’Dat Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOyycNqiWA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhf9jtS07CM

c)     Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_m1b8BYmhA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xYgeme2F9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz68KvMtHOA

d)    The Way You Look Tonight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_eK3jYJm5I

e)    ‘Till the Clouds Roll By

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJwwUpdnKfM