We have a detailed history of Tin Pan Alley thanks to invaluable information from the Historic Districts Council in their “Brief-ish History of Tin Pan Alley” written in 2008, and Michael Minn in his piece “Tin Pan Alley”, part of his “New York City” photography collection project. As both accounts cover both overlapping and different information, we present them both below. Many thanks to them both for their thorough and dogged research and insightful presentation.
Tin Pan Alley & Black American Music
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 7–8pm
Poster House, 119 West 23rd Street
(bet. 6th & 7th Ave)
Event Information
The Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project is proud to partner with Poster House for this special concert in conjunction with their current exhibition "Act Black: Posters from Black American Stage and Screen." Join music director/Tin Pan Alley Project Board Member Robert Lamont and singer/actress/Tin Pan Alley Project Committee member Gabrielle Lee for an enthralling journey into the early years of American musical comedy.
Through live performance and storytelling, these esteemed performers will explore the relationship between Tin Pan Alley and the New York stage, highlighting the powerful contributions of Black composers, lyricists, publishers, and performers between 1890 and 1910.
The song-filled evening will spotlight the rise of Black-owned publishing houses on 28th Street and the Broadway productions that established this music as part of the Great American Songbook. Lee and Lamont will illustrate how the sheet music and poster art featured in the exhibition "Act Black" shaped popular culture across the United States and around the world. They will also share stories of the influential women who helped define American show music during this vibrant period.
Robert Lamont is a musical director, arranger, and pianist known for his work in musical theater and American song traditions. He has collaborated with leading vocalists, theater artists, and cultural institutions throughout New York, bringing historical and contemporary performance practices into conversation. Lamont’s deep knowledge of Tin Pan Alley and early Broadway music shapes his dynamic approach to musical storytelling.
Gabrielle Lee is a singer and actress whose career spans Broadway, national tours, concert stages, and film and television. She is celebrated for her powerful vocals and rich interpretive style, with performance credits that highlight a wide range of American musical traditions.
https://www.youtube.com/@robertlamonttinpanalleycha3212/playlists
Registration Information
For tickets and information, please visit the Poster House website:
https://posterhouse.org/event/tin-pan-alley-black-american-music/
