Lecturers at the Jefferson Educational Society

Michael Lasser is a lecturer, writer, broadcaster, critic, and teacher.  He and Philip Furia are co-authors of the recent book, America’s Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley.  Since 1980, he has been the host of the nationally syndicated public radio show, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, winner of a 1994 Peabody Award.  A graduate of Dartmouth College, he is the former theater critic for The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, and for 30 years has spoken at museums and universities around the country. In 2010, he was named a Thomas P. Johnson Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Rollins College. He is currently preparing a 2-CD set of the early songs of Irving Berlin and is working on a new book, The Song Is Us: Love, Lyrics & American Life, 1900-1950.