Why the Golden Age of Broadway Still Shines Bright
From the sweeping romance of South Pacific to the rousing optimism of The Music Man, the musicals of Broadway’s Golden Age have captivated audiences for generations. Spanning roughly from the mid-1940s through the early 1960s, this remarkable era produced a wealth of iconic shows that continue to be performed, recorded, studied, and cherished today. But what makes this music so enduring -and so relevant to audiences in 2025?
First, the craftsmanship of the Golden Age composers and lyricists – figures like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Jerry Bock, Meredith Willson, and Burton Lane – was second to none. These songwriters were masters of melody, able to craft tunes that lodged in the listener’s memory after a single hearing. Just as importantly, they knew how to pair those melodies with lyrics that revealed character, advanced plot, and explored universal human emotions. Whether it’s the longing in “Some Enchanted Evening,” the wit of “With a Little Bit of Luck,” or the earnest hope of “Till There Was You,” the songs of this era are built on emotional truth.
Second, the themes explored in these musicals remain strikingly relevant. Shows like Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, and South Pacific tackle issues of identity, tradition, social justice, love, loss, and the clash between progress and nostalgia. Though framed in different times and places, the questions these works ask are still with us: How do we balance our dreams with our duties? What does it mean to belong? Can love overcome difference?
Finally, there is something undeniably unifying and uplifting in the spirit of these shows. The Golden Age emerged in the shadow of World War II and the uncertainty of the postwar years, offering audiences both an escape and a mirror. In many ways, today’s world – with its own upheavals, divisions, and uncertainties – is not so different. These musicals remind us of the strength found in community, the power of hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
As The Michael O’Neal Singers, joined by the Tyrone Jackson Trio, perform selections from this treasured repertoire, we invite you not only to enjoy the nostalgia these songs may evoke, but also to listen with fresh ears – to hear the timeless stories they tell and to discover, once again, why Broadway’s Golden Age continues to enchant.
~ Michael O’Neal
Tyrone Jackson
The name Tyrone Jackson is the quintessential jazz piano player. His boundless creativity and harmonic mastery utilize the piano as a blank canvas. Jackson is nationally recognized and has traveled the world as a solo artist and sideman. Born in the New Orleans cradle of jazz, Jackson embodies the spirit of the Crescent City. The blends of jazz, funk, and Afro-Caribbean melodies are ever present in his work. But, of course, musicians are never solely influenced by themselves. Jackson’s teachers are a virtual Who’s Who of great jazz piano players ranging from Ellis Marsalis and Mary Ann Bulla to gospel/classical legend Moses Hogan.
As a composer, Jackson has composed original music for Pulitzer Prize-winning author Natasha Trethewey’s book of poems, “Native Guard” turned theatrical play, Pearl Cleage’s play, “Tell Me My Dream,” “Ethel” by Terri Burrell, and the Alliance Theater production of “Nick’s Flamingo Grill” and the 2023 release of North Carolina Black Repertory Theater’s “Phenomenal Woman.” Jackson has recorded 4 Albums—“Dedicated,” “Another Voyage,” “Melody In Nede,” and their new release “From The Mind Of.” Additionally, Jackson’s work in “Native Guard” premiered in Los Angeles, CA, at the famous Sage Hills Academy from January 9-15, 2017. In addition to his composition skills, the jazz wonder is most known for his compelling solos. Jackson’s improvisational skills allow him to become a part of the song, whether he softly highlights ballads or tears through fast-paced standards.
Currently, Tyrone Jackson is a professor at Kennesaw State University, where he is a Senior Lecturer of Jazz Piano and teaches a myriad of classes, including Aural Skills III & IV, Jazz Improvisation I, II & III, Jazz Combo, Jazz Theory, Applied Jazz Piano, Group Jazz Piano, Music Entrepreneurship, and History of the Blues. Jackson’s influence extends beyond the university, where he is a clinician and teacher for the Rialto Arts Jazz program for middle school, a clinician for Sound Learning, and a clinician for the Clayton County Arts Association. Jackson is also a doctoral candidate at Georgia State University seeking a Ph.D. in Music Education. His dissertation thesis is: Extending Agency To Improvisation Students By Utilizing Corpus Tools For The Acquisition Of Jazz Language.
Jackson has performed with Steve Turre, Larry Carlton, Carmen Bradford, Earl Klugh, Karla Harris, Melba Moore, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Gardner, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Wes Anderson, Greg Dawson, Jennifer Holiday, Karen Briggs, Clay Jenkins, Russell Gunn, David Sanchez, Damaris Carbough, Stephanie Mills, Avery Sunshine, Russell Malone, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller along with opening for Esperanza Spaulding, Gerald Albright, Spyro Gyra and the Crusaders, and Chaka Kahn. He also toured Italy and Austria with the UNO Jazz Band, toured Brazil with Michael Ward, Toured Thule and Greenland, and performed with FutureMan (Roy Wooton).
