Pianist Robert Wyatt on Jerome Kern, the Godfather of American Musical Theater Art of Living series, Smithsonian Associates Our guest today, Robert Wyatt, an American music specialist, researcher and pianist, and presenter of the Smithsonian Associates event, Jerome Kern the godfather of American Musical Theater, says Jerome Kern did it all, and is where it all began… Jerome Kern first began to get some real attention when his hits such as "Ol man River," which you're listening to now, sung by Paul Robeson, and Kern's work with collaborators, Oscar Hammerstein, Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, caught the music-loving public's attention with musicals that successfully wedded Kern's great music, lyrics, and libretto. Kern's transformative work with musicals such as his famous musical play Showboat, famous for "Ol Man River," (which you're listening to now, sung by Paul Robeson) "Bill," and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man of Mine." As part of our Smithsonian Associates series, today we speak to pianist and research expert, Robert Wyatt, about Jerome Kern the godfather of American Musical Theater. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Robert Wyatt, who'll be presenting at the Ripley Center, Washington, DC, May 18, 2017. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.