Ten years in the making, the book is Sidran's response to the fact that there was not a single work that comprehensively covered the participation of Jews in American popular music. It struck him as odd that a group never exceeding 2% of the population seemed to contribute 80% of the American songbook. Ben realized that he could write that book. He had no idea it would take 10 years.
Sidran says, "Along the way I learned a lot and in the end I think I answered some key questions, like Who is a Jew in America? What is Jewish about popular music in America? and What's the prognosis for the future?