Irving Berlin

Born Israel Isidore Beilin in 1889, Irving Berlin began his life in the town of Mogilev, Russia to a humble household.  Soon afterward, his family immigrated to the United States and, after the death of his father, Berlin was forced to work odd street jobs. During a shift as a singing waiter, Berlin was asked to compete against a rival restaurant by writing an original composition – “Marie From Sunny Italy” became Berlin’s first published piece earning him a whopping 37 cents.

Having no instrumental experience, Berlin  relied on collaborations with local musicians although most of his partners were never credited. He later learned the basics of piano playing and, interestingly enough, limited his compositions to the black keys.

Berlin created a slew of songs that saw mild success but it wasn’t until his song “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” hit the scene in 1911 that he made it big. Shortly afterward, Berlin enlisted in World War I’s armed forces and wrote another widely known song- ”God Bless America.” After the war, Berlin built the Music Box Theater to house revues of his compositions.

Fast forward to World War II; Americans would witness the first installment of Berlin’s most successful Broadway musical- Annie Get Your Gun, produced by Rogers and Hammerstein. This wild west hit was written a few years after “White Christmas.”  Featuring household favorites like “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” Annie Get your Gun would prove to be a timeless Broadway sensation.

In total, Berlin’s career spanned nearly seventy years during which is composed more than one thousand two hundred songs.  He was honored with an Academy Award for “White Christmas” and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1968. Berlin led a long life and died at the age of 101 in New York City in 1989.