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Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Beilin, ישראל בעילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist. Considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history, Berlin's music forms a great part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin emigrated to the United States at the age of five. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", in 1907, receiving 33 cents for the publishing rights[1]. and had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", was released in 1911; the song sparked an international dance craze in places as far away as Berlin's native Russia, which also "flung itself into the ragtime beat with an abandon bordering on mania." Over the years Berlin became known for writing music and lyrics in the American vernacular: uncomplicated, simple and direct, with his stated aim being to "reach the heart of the average American," whom he saw as the "real soul of the country,"[2]. In doing so, said Walter Cronkite, at Berlin's 100th birthday tribute, he "helped write the story of this country, capturing the best of who we are and the dreams that shape our lives." Berlin wrote hundreds of songs, many becoming major hits, which made him "a legend" before he turned thirty. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films, with his songs nominated eight times for Academy Awards. Many songs became popular themes and anthems, including "Easter Parade", "Puttin' on the Ritz", "Cheek to Cheek", "White Christmas", "Happy Holiday", "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)", and "There's No Business Like Show Business". In 1918, Berlin wrote the patriotic American anthem "God Bless America" during World War I, and revised it in 1938 during the run up to World War II. The revised version was performed by Kate Smith and would become her signature song. Berlin's 1936 song "Let's Face the Music and Dance", originally written for the film Follow the Feet, would be performed by Seth MacFarlane (as Mike) in Sing. Berlin's songs have reached the top of the charts 25 times and have been covered by numerous singers including The Andrews Sisters, Eddie Fisher, Al Jolson, Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Rosemary Clooney, Cher, Diana Ross, Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughan, Ruth Etting, Fanny Brice, Marilyn Miller, Rudy Vallée, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Jerry Garcia, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, and Christina Aguilera. He ultimately died in 1989 at the age of 101. Composer Douglas Moore included him with Stephen Foster, Walt Whitman, and Carl Sandburg as a "great American minstrel," someone who has "caught and immortalized in his songs what we say, what we think about, and what we believe,"[2]. Read more here... References
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Irving Berlin
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