author
David Ewen
1907–1985
Best known for making music history approachable, this prolific writer and editor introduced generations of readers to composers, Broadway, and American popular song. His books helped bridge the gap between concert hall scholarship and everyday curiosity.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Lemberg, then part of Austria-Hungary, on November 26, 1907, and brought to the United States as a child, David Ewen became one of the most productive American writers on music. He began publishing in the early 1930s, starting with a book on Franz Schubert, and went on to write and edit many volumes about composers, musical theater, and popular music.
His interests ranged widely across both classical and popular traditions, but he was especially noted for reference works on American musical theater and the history of American popular music. He also wrote extensively about George Gershwin, a subject that remained central to his career.
Later in life, Ewen was associated with the University of Miami's School of Music, where archival records describe him as an associate professor and a prolific researcher in both serious and popular music. He died on December 28, 1985, leaving behind a body of work that helped many readers explore music with confidence and pleasure.