See and hear Randy Rainbow’s clever parody of the Yip Harburg-Harold Arlen song “The Jitterbug” (cut from The Wizard of Oz film) in which the singer-satirist skewers the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd killing.
Category Archives: Featured
THE LAST LEGACY OF E.Y. “YIP” HARBURG
Phil Springer, composer of “Santa Baby,” talks with journalist Sarah Pilla about his new project: The Last Legacy of E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, a DVD/CD collection of the songs Phil wrote with Yip. The segment aired on May 23, 2020 on Spectrum News 1, Los Angeles.
“OVER THE RAINBOW” spreads hope – again
Although California’s annual Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Choral Festival—originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 18—had been cancelled, the Chino Hills HS Chamber Singers demonstrated resilience by recording their individual a cappella portion of Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen’s classic “Over the Rainbow” in their separate homes, and through technology were able to appear together as a family again. Their harmonious performance was shared online for the CVUSD community with the goal of spreading hope and cheer during this difficult time. Even after 80+ years, it’s the song people sing in times of trouble.
NEW PODCAST ABOUT YIP
In Episode 48 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg speaks with Yip’s son Ernie Harburg, co-author of Who Put the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz? Yip Harburg, Lyricist, and Deena Rosenberg-Harburg, Yip’s daughter-in-law and author of Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin. The interview was conducted on Feb. 22, 2020.
Harlem Repertory Theatre Does the Wizard of Oz Featured on New York Live TV!!
Check out this NBC segment that aired 8/27/19 about our Wizard of Oz: A Jazz Musical for All Ages, a unique 21st century take!
YIP HARBURG: FORGOTTEN LYRICIST
YouTube’s “History Guy” posted a segment about Yip Harburg on July 12, 2019 entitled “Yip Harburg: Forgotten Lyricist.”
THE WIZARD OF OZ: A JAZZ MUSICAL FOR ALL AGES at Harlem Rep
The Wizard of Oz: A Jazz Musical for All Ages, a new stage adaptation by Deena R. Harburg and Arthur Perlman of the beloved classic film, has been extended to June 2020 at the Harlem Repertory Theatre where it has been running since 2016 to enthusiastic response. See the reviews at NiteLife Exchange, Stage Buddy, The Broadway Blog, Huffington Post and Times Square Chronicles.
DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CAUTIONS, HARLEM REP HAS POSTPONED ITS 2019-20 SEASON UNTIL FALL 2020.
Over the Rainbow: The Life and Rhymes of Yip Harburg
Over the Rainbow: The Life and Rhymes of Yip Harburg by Stuart Stotts was released in paperback in September 2015 by Big Valley Press. It is also available as a Kindle book.
HUFFINGTON POST: ERNIE HARBURG REMINISCES ABOUT YIP
On Aug. 6, 2015 the Huffington Post published “Lyricist Yip Harburg’s Son Ernie: How My Dad Inspired Me to Become a Scientist” by Mike Sigman based on an essay by Ernie entitled “Yip and I.”
The Yip Harburg Songbook
The Yip Harburg Songbook. Piano/vocal sheets to 34 songs including “Over the Rainbow,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “April in Paris,” “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady,” “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” “Old Devil Moon,” and an illustrated introductory essay by Stephen Holden. Hal Leonard Publishers, 2009.