Alec Wilder was an eccentric, a nomad, a great friend but an abusive drunk, and the author of what many critics consider a definitive book on American music, American Popular Song. He also arranged for radio and composed an amazing variety of music. He wrote operas, octets for woodwinds, film scores, concertos for jazz saxophonists, songs for Broadway revues, and produced a collection of songs for children with lyricist William Engvick and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

His unorthodox classical pieces were infiltrated with jazz and confounded many musicians but set the stage for jazz chamber music. His popular songs such as “I’ll Be Around,” “While We’re Young,” “It’s So Peaceful in the Country,” and “Trouble Is a Man” were recorded by top vocalists, and his music was promoted by the likes of Mildred Bailey, Mitch Miller, Frank Sinatra, Marian McPartland, and Judy Holliday.

In his absorbing book, Desmond Stone has done a masterful job of capturing the illusive character of the man and recreating the roller-coaster ride of his life from his youth in Rochester through his eclectic friendships and associations with illustrious figures in the world of music and entertainment. A whole chapter is devoted to his long association with James T. Maher in creating American Popular Song.

Desmond Stone has had a long and distinguished career in journalism and is a life member of the National Conference of Editorial Writers. He was a New Zealand Associate Niemen Fellow at Harvard University from 1955-1956. He is retired and lives in Rochester, New York.