22c Jerome Kern single

The 22-cent Performing Arts Series commemorative stamp honoring composer Jerome Kern was issued January 23, 1985, in New York City. The dedication ceremony was held in the Main Gallery of the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center.

Jerome Kern earned a reputation as the King of the American Musical Theater by composing more than one thousand songs and 108 complete theatrical scores and winning Academy Awards for The Way You Look Tonight and The Last Time I Saw Paris. Other popular songs for which he wrote the music include Lovely to Look At, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, All the Things You Are, Look for the Silver Lining, I Won't Dance and Pick Yourself Up.

He reached the pinnacle of his Broadway career in 1927, with the production of the musical Show Boat, which included such long-time standards as Bill, Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, Make Believe, Why Do I Love You? And Ol' Man River. Other memorable Broadway shows that featured Kern scores include Sally, Sunny, Roberta, Music in the Air, and The Cat and the Fiddle. Kern's work inspired a generation of composers, including Richard Rodgers, Arthur Schwartz and George Gershwin.

The stamp was designed by Jim Sharpe of Westport, Connecticut, who was also the typographer. Art director was Jack Williams; modeler was Richard C. Sennett, American Bank Note Company. The gravure process was used.

The stamps were issued in panes of fifty.

Reference:

Postal Bulletin (December 20, 1984).

mint