GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ORCHESTRA

Our Premiere Concert! Saturday, April 4th, 2026  2:00 PM Hermosa Beach Community Theater

WHO ARE WE?

90 Years In The Making...

What IS the GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ORCHESTRA?  It's 36 of the top studio/jazz musicians in Southern California, plus two incredible vocalists - all dedicated to the Preservation, Promotion and Performance of the iconic music of the American Songbook!  The timeless songs of Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, etc. Songs recorded by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, etc.  Plus plenty of great instrumental favorites by Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Burt Bacharach, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Tito Puente, and Count Basie. 

Now more than ever, we need to share this canon of American Music with our younger generations.  ... music with a timeless message, music we all love, music we can all be proud of... Our American Songbook! 

We are excited to present this iconic music as it was originally written, arranged  or recorded. In most cases we're using the original manuscripts or faithful transcriptions.  We hope to start a flood of wonderful memories for our mature audiences and to ignite a spark of interest and appreciation in our younger fans. 

We strive to provide wonderful opportunities for our diverse multi-generational Southern California communities to experience musical and cultural experiences at the highest levels of excellence. 

Contact Us - click here!

Please Donate Today! Keep Our Dream Alive!

Latest News

Here's the latest news on GASO!

    Jun 18, 2023

    Buddy's Music Buddies Podcast

    Here's we go again! Check out Buddy's new podcast where he sits down to have an informal chat with some of the iconic music makersof the past 60 years!  Special guests will chat about their careers, the lives, their influences…

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    Jun 18, 2023

    New Podcast! AMERICAN SONGBOOK TREASURES

    Check out our new music podcast AMERICAN SONGBOOK TREASURES on Spotiy!  Dr. Buddy shares the stories behind the songs, the singers, the musicians, songwriters and the composers of the music from the Great American Songbook. He also welcomes special guests…

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    Jan 20, 2023

    Welcome SHURE Audio!

    Welcome to our newest corporate sponsor... the wonderful folks at SHURE, manufacturers of premiere audio equipment.   They have already become tremendous supporters of GASO! Check out their website at Shure.com

     

    Jun 24, 2022

    GASO WELCOMES STAFF ARRANGERS

    So much of the music GASO performs comes directly from the original manuscript arrangements just as they were recorded.  But it nice to have some selections that were written and arranged specifically for the GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ORCHESTRA.  And to…

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    Jun 24, 2022

    GASO ACHIEVES NONPRFIT STATUS

    BIGGER NEWS!  The GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ORCHESTRA has been recognized as an official nonprofit corporation by the California Security of State.  We have also received 501c Nonprofit designation by the IRS as well!  We may now qualify for grants and…

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    Mar 25, 2021

    Check Out the Syd Lawrence Orchestra...

    Over the past 3 years over promoting the GASO, one of the highlights has been making a wonderful new friend, Chris Dean.  Chris directs the incredible Syd Lawrence Orchestra based in England.  Syd Lawrence was a fabulous trumpeter who…

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