Jonathan Schwartz (radio)

Jonathan Schwartz (born June 28, 1938) is an American radio personality, known for his devotion to traditional pop music. From the 1960s on, he has been a presence on radio stations in the New York radio market, and he continues to be heard regularly on New York public radio. Additionally, Schwartz sometimes performs as a singer and has recorded numerous selections from the collection of popular music from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s known as the Great American Songbook. Schwartz has also written novels, short stories, and a memoir, All In Good Time (2004).

Early life

Schwartz was born in New York City, the son of musician Arthur Schwartz (1900–1984).[1] Though his memoirs describe an unhappy childhood, Schwartz grew up animated by a passionate interest in musical arts. His father was a composer of Broadway and film scores ("Dancing in the Dark" and "That's Entertainment!" are among his works), and from an early age Schwartz developed his interest through this family perspective.[1] Jonathan's half-brother Paul Schwartz (born 1956) is a composer, conductor, pianist, and producer.[2]

Radio career

Schwartz worked at New York's WNEW-FM from 1967 to 1976, followed by stints at WNEW, WQEW, and currently WNYC-FM. Schwartz also served as programming director for XM Satellite Radio's now-defunct High Standards channel, and later appeared on Sirius XM's Siriusly Sinatra and '40s on 4 channels until 2013.

Schwartz is best known for The Jonathan Schwartz Show, which airs Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons on WNYC-FM, and comprises about half talk and half an eclectic mix of music.[3]

In his talk during the shows, Schwartz will discuss famous pop songwriters and singers, and jazz artists.[4] His music selections incorporate pop jazz, pop standards, big band and Broadway show tunes, augmented by music of nearly any popular style that has influenced twentieth century American tastes. His playlists reflect the "Great American Songbook" or, as Schwartz describes it, "America's classical music".[5] Traditionally, Schwartz opens each broadcast with the same secret snippet of music which he had always refused to identify until 2014, at a show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music: slightly more than a minute of "a lilting woman's voice, wordless and yet evocative, over an acoustic guitar."[4] The voice is that of Schwartz's friend since childhood, Carly Simon; listeners had speculated that the music may have been composed by his father, but it was a joint work of his and Carly Simon's. Similarly, he closes most shows with a song from the late cabaret singer Nancy LaMott, followed by another instrumental piece.

Schwartz is known for his on-air stories about his interactions with famous people, most often Frank Sinatra. He is also known for his encyclopedic knowledge of Sinatra, who was reportedly amazed by Schwartz's knowledge of every song he had ever recorded. He champions young artists who carry on the traditions of the American Songbook, as well as reveling rapturously in the songwriters and performers of the Sinatra era. In 1986 Schwartz won a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes for The Voice - The Columbia Years 1943-1952.[6]

In 2013 WNYC launched The Jonathan Channel, a 24/7 streaming Internet radio station programmed by Schwartz and dedicated to classic American songs selected by him. The channel also features live programming hosted by Schwartz, including a simulcast of his Sunday WNYC show.[7]

Other works

In addition to his radio work, Schwartz has performed in New York City cabaret, recorded three albums as a singer, and authored five books:

He does most of his writing in Palm Springs, California.[8]

Personal life

Schwartz was briefly married to the author Sara Davidson in the late 1960s.[9] He married the journalist and Vanity Fair correspondent Marie Brenner in 1979,[10][11] with whom he has one daughter.[11] Schwartz later married Elinor Renfield, with whom he has a son.[11]

In March 2010, Schwartz married actress Zohra Lampert in New York City. At the wedding, his long-time friend Tony Bennett sang "I See Your Face Before Me", a 1937 composition by Schwartz's father and Howard Dietz.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cathleen McGuigan (22 March 2004). "Come Fly With Him; DJ Jonathan Schwartz grew up in Frank's world". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 September 2012. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  2. ↑ "Paul Schwartz". iTunes. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ The Jonathan Schwartz Show, WNYC
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Freedman, Samuel G. (5 September 2003). "In the Radio Studio with Jonathan Schwartz; An Alchemist's 36-Year Seminar". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Deborah Grace Winer (1 September 2003). "Girl Singers: From nightclubs and concert halls to recordings, today's best vocalists put a new spin on old favorites". Town & Country. Retrieved 9 September 2012. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Past Winners: Jonathan Schwartz". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Schwartz, Jonathan (October 15, 2013). "The American Songbook: One Man's Canon". The New Yorker.
  8. ↑ Holden, Stephen (October 4, 1988). "A Composer's Son Remembers Life With Father, Through Fiction". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Wadler, Joyce (1 March 2007). "A new chapter for Sara Davidson, a voice of the boomers". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Marian Christy (23 March 1988). "A Gothic tale from Louisville". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 September 2012. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Schwartz, Jonathan (2005). All in Good Time: A Memoir. New York: Random House. p. 258. ISBN 9780812973624. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Michael (31 July 2011). "Spinning The American Songbook". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2012.

External links