Irving Berlin
Irving
Berlin
Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore
Baline; May 11, 1888 – September 22,
1989) was a Russian-born American
composer and lyricist, widely considered
one of the greatest songwriters in
American history. His music forms a
great part of the Great American
Songbook. Born into a Jewish family in
Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in 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, and had
his first major international hit,
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. He
also was an owner of the Music Box
Theatre on Broadway.
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" 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 he was 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." 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."
He 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", "White Christmas",
"Always", and "Dancing Cheek to Cheek".
Source - Wikipedia.