I started this not-for-profit organization in 2003 out of my love and passion for the wonderful body of work known as the Great American Songbook, known and loved around the world, and made in America. If you love this music like I do you can support Our Mission: To preserve our cultural treasure known as the Great American Songbook by presenting this music to the public at home and abroad as Ambassadors of Song. We do this in Concert, in Education, and in Sponsorship.I became committed to singing and sharing this music in my own individual pursuits as a singer and independent record label Kapland Records. As an attendee of the International Association for Jazz Education for a dozen years, I met many people in all aspects of the music industry and in all of my conversations with executives, advocates, musicians and singers, I never met anyone who didn't like the mission and goals I began to advocate for on behalf of the organization I eventually started: American Songbook Preservation Society. Since that time I have personally underwritten and produced 5 Concerts, 2 Live Concert CD & DVD Recordings, and a Documentary Film on behalf of our mission. I have also continued to advocate on behalf of the music of this distinctive and truly American body of work in Print, in Concert, on Television and Radio, and in Public Speaking.Some of the supporters I have met along the way include these individuals who commented below."I think it’s a wonderful idea."Nat HentoffRenowned Reviewer, Historian & Journalist on the purpose and mission of American Songbook Preservation Society"This is very patriotic!"Phoebe JacobsExecutive Vice President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation"We are working for the same thing…to continue the legacy of this great body of work for future generations to come to know and enjoy."Wynton Marsalis Trumpeter, Composer, Bandleader, Music Educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center"There is a grassroots group you may know of, led by vocalist and producer Ron Kaplan. It’s called the American Songbook Preservation Society…Very admirable; no one (save perhaps Michael Feinstein) could be more eager than I to see the brilliant work of the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Frank Loesser and their ilk, protected and performed ad infinitum.Christopher LoudenJazzTimes Vocal ColumnistI hope you will join us in creating a future for our past.Ron KaplanKapland Records
ASPS offers very limited financial disclosure dating back to 2007. Detailed information about contributions received and expenses incurred is not available for years except 2004 and 2011. Website and social media channels show extremely limited traffic and interactions. The organization's promotional videos are posted on the Executive Director's personal YouTube page amidst videos of himself performing. Organization is currently raising funds via online platforms such as Indiegogo that assess high fees from third party processors. Current funding project has five contributors, one of which shares the same name as the organization's ED.
info583 01/01/2016
Our Mission: To preserve our cultural treasure known as the Great American Songbook by presenting this music to the public at home and abroad as Ambassadors of Song. Our Vision: Our purpose is to build an Organization to stand the test of time and continue this body of work for the next 100 years and beyond for public benefit. Will you help us to endow a Foundation dedicated to continuing this legacy for future generations? We are looking for Donors who believe in this American Cultural Legacy and want their name or business associated with the American Songbook Preservation Society as we fulfill our mission. The American Songbook Preservation Society is a performance organization whose purpose is to continue the legacy of the Great American Songbook by performing these works in public to audiences in America and abroad. The organization features highly accomplished musicians and singers performing these works for public benefit and educational purposes. As singer Tony Bennett once said, "This is America’s classical music."