Irving Berlin (1)
With a life that spanned more than 100
years and 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.who
immigrated to New York in 1893. 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." A sampling of his hits
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." He wrote
17 scores for Broadway musicals and
revues, and contributed material to six more.
Among the shows were AS THOUSANDS
CHEER, LOUISIANA PURCHASE, MISS
LIBERTY, MR. PRESIDENT, CALL ME
MADAM and the successful very ANNIE
GET YOUR GUN.
Among the film musical classics were TOP
HAT, FOLLOW THE FLEET,
ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND,
HOLIDAY INN, THIS IS THE ARMY,
BLUE SKIES, EASTER PARADE, WHITE
CHRISTMAS and THERE'S NO BUSINESS
LIKE SHOW BUSINESS. 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.
Irving Berlin (2)
Irving Berlin was a co-founder of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and founder of his own
music publishing company. His generosity to - his country is legendary, and through several of his foundations,
including The God Bless America Fund and This is The Army Inc., 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 1955 and the Freedom Medal from President Ford in 1977.
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, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
White Christmas
Words & music by:-
Irving Berlin
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white