With a life that spanned
more than 100 years and a catalogue that boasted over 1000 songs, Irving
Berlin epitomized Jerome Kern's famous maxim that "Irving Berlin has no
place in American music -- he is American music."
 Irving
Berlin was born Israel Beilin on May 11, 1888. One of eight children, his
exact place of birth is unknown, although his family had been living in
Tolochin, Byelorussia, when they immigrated to New York in 1893. When his
father died, Berlin, just turned 13, took to the streets in various odd
jobs, working as a busker singing for pennies, then as a singing waiter
in a Chinatown Cafe. In 1907 he published his first song, "Marie from Sunny
Italy," and by 1911 he had his first major international hit — "Alexander's
Ragtime Band."
Over the next five decades,
Irving Berlin produced an outpouring of ballads, dance numbers, novelty
tunes and love songs that defined American popular song for much of the
century. A sampling of just some of the Irving Berlin standards includes
"How Deep Is the Ocean," "Blue Skies," "White Christmas," "Always," "Anything
You Can Do I Can Do Better," "There's No Business Like Show Business,"
"Cheek to Cheek," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,"
"Heat Wave," "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," "Easter Parade"
and "Let's Face the Music and Dance." In a class by itself is his beloved
paean to his beloved country, "God Bless America."
He was equally at home writing
for Broadway and Hollywood. He wrote seventeen complete scores for Broadway
musicals and revues, and contributed material to six more. Among the shows
featuring all-Berlin scores were THE COCOANUTS , AS THOUSANDS CHEER , LOUISIANA
PURCHASE , THIS IS THE ARMY, MISS LIBERTY , MR. PRESIDENT , CALL ME MADAM
and the phenomenally successful ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.
 Among
the Hollywood movie musical classics with scores by Irving Berlin are TOP
HAT, FOLLOW THE FLEET, ON THE AVENUE, ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, HOLIDAY
INN, BLUE SKIES, EASTER PARADE, WHITE CHRISTMAS and THERE'S NO BUSINESS
LIKE SHOW BUSINESS. His songs have provided memorable moments in dozens
of other films, from THE JAZZ SINGER (1927) to blockbusters like HOME ALONE
(1991) and TITANIC (1997). Among his many awards were a special Tony Award
(1963) and the Academy Award for Best Song of the Year for "White Christmas"
in 1942.
An intuitive business man,
Irving Berlin was a co-founder of ASCAP (American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers), founder of his own music publishing company, and
with producer Sam Harris, builder of his own Broadway theatre, The Music
Box. An unabashed patriot, his love for - and generosity to - his country
is legendary, and through several of his foundations, including The God
Bless America Fund, he donated millions of dollars in royalties to Army
Emergency Relief, the Boy and Girl Scouts and other organizations. His
actions were acknowledged with such accolades as the Army's Medal of Merit
from President Truman in 1945; a Congressional Gold Medal for "God Bless
America" and other patriotic songs from President Eisenhower in 1954; and
the Freedom Medal from President Ford in 1977. In 2002, the U.S. Army at
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, named the Army Entertainment Division (AED) World
Headquarters "The Irving Berlin Center" in his honor. Also that year he
was commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.
Irving Berlin's centennial
in 1988 was celebrated worldwide, culminating in an all-star tribute at
Carnegie Hall benefitting the Hall and ASCAP, subsequently an Emmy Award
winning special on CBS, and featuring such varied luminaries of the musical
world as Frank Sinatra, Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern, Natalie Cole and
Willie Nelson.
On September 22, 1989, at
the age of 101, Irving Berlin died in his sleep in his town house in New
York City. A widower since his wife of 62 years, the former Ellin Mackay,
had died the previous year at the age of 85, Berlin is survived by three
daughters and their families.
| Piano
Home | Press Kit | Photos
|
Telecharge: 1-800/233-3123
MajesTix Groups:
617/824-8000
Specific Needs:
617/824-8000
TTY: 1-888-889-8587
|
|
