April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 May 6
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Beginning in New York City in the 50s, where the echoes of Tin Pan Alley's Great American Songbook still resound, a new generation of talented songwriters and musicians filled the airwaves and shaped the soundtrack of popular American culture. This course is a journey into the melodies, stories, and vibrant personalities behind the Brill Building era of the late 50s and 60s. The class discusses the music of legendary songwriters such as Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield, Phil Spector, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Neil Diamond, and others. The class rediscovers tunes from Elvis Presley, the Drifters, Dionne Warwick, the Ronettes, the Monkees, Manfred Mann, Andy Williams, the Righteous Brothers, and many others.

Michael Agron has delivered engaging seminars for Sacramento State University’s Renaissance Society as well as numerous lifelong learning organizations across the nation.