MORTY SHALLMAN

“The Jazz Singer” meets “Blue Velvet” in Last of the Zacharys: A Musical Novel, written, composed, and performed by author, singer, and songwriter Morty Shallman.

Throughout his career, Morty has worked to merge his two artistic passions: writing fiction and creating pop songs. That pursuit led him to develop a new genre he calls “Literary Pop."

Last of the Zacharys is his signature work in the genre: a fully produced audio book featuring a complete novel, with 19 original songs woven directly into the narrative to advance the story and characters—all performed by the author/composer with an array of distinctive voices.

The story follows Jaz Zachary, a young son of wealth and privilege whose musical ambitions are crushed by his powerful family.

Unable to pursue his artistic dreams, Jaz descends into the subterranean madness of his debauched Midwestern hometown, a tragicomic nightmare of gangs, drugs, and murder—and a forbidden love that could save him or destroy everything he has left.

Told with the manic comic energy of A Confederacy of Dunces and the lyrical menace of Denis Johnson's Jesus' Son, Last of the Zacharys pairs razor-sharp storytelling with songs ranging from soulful acoustic to crunchy power pop to dynamic alt-rock mini-symphonies.