| 1619 Broadway, in Manhattan. The Tin Pan Alley of the era between Elvis' enlisting and The Beatles' Ed Sullivan visits. This is where many pop singers got their songs (especially in the context of girl groups), from writers like Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill; top producer/execs of the day were Phil Spector, Don Kirshner, and George "Shadow" Morton. Even a young Lou Reed began here. After it became important for artists to "roll their own", the good writers kept working - The Monkees must have been a godsend; some branched out into writing for the stage and screen, while others (like King) became performers. |
