By: Brian Berger

An aston­ish­ingly un­convent­ional composer

By: Brian Berger

“Ah, yes, the Hankenstein.”

By: Brian Berger

A composer and song collector about whom you’ve never heard.

By: Brian Berger

His empathy made Ives a superior artist.

By: Brian Berger

“Ladies and gentlemen, watch Ruth!”

By: Brian Berger

He wrote “The Philosophy of Breaking Through”

By: Brian Berger

“Catch me at the flicks, Apollo rap Frederick Douglass”

By: Brian Berger

“Coarse sexuality. Data and cynical commentary… Jokes!”

By: Brian Berger

His nickname — pronounced “Hi-Lo” — honored his vocal range.

By: Brian Berger

Neglected puzzle master of country, cajun, jazz, and the blues.

By: Brian Berger

“A siren song sung in bass.”

By: Brian Berger

“The greatest song hound of all.”

By: Brian Berger

For all his candor as a performer, he kept one thing from the public…

By: Brian Berger

“All Lean’s movies are Life Epics, about individuals… and their dawning conscience.”

By: Brian Berger

Harpo and Groucho needed an unflappable, ersatz Italian confidence man.