Berlin, Irving (1888-1989), composed many of the most famous American popular songs. Berlin wrote the music and lyrics for romantic ballads, humorous songs, patriotic anthems, and many other types of compositions. During his career, Berlin was the songwriter most able to reflect changes in America’s taste in popular song. His hits include “Easter Parade” (1917, revised 1933), “God Bless America” (1918, revised 1938), and “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” (1946). Berlin won an Academy Award for his song “White Christmas” from Holiday Inn (1942). See God Bless America.
Berlin was born in Russia on May 11, 1888. His real name was Israel Baline. His family moved to New York City in the early 1890’s. Berlin went to school for only two years and was a self-taught musician.
Berlin wrote his first successful song, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” in 1911. This song combined quotations from American folk music with a suggestion of the syncopation of ragtime. In syncopated music, normally unaccented beats are accented. Berlin thus helped popularize a musical style free of European influences that had dominated American music until that time.
From about 1910 to the early 1930’s, Berlin wrote songs for many Broadway musicals. Much of this music was written for variety shows called revues. Berlin’s best-known Broadway shows included the annual Music Box Revues, presented from 1921 to 1924. He wrote the hit “Say It with Music” for the 1921 revue.
In 1935, Berlin moved to Hollywood, California, where he wrote songs for a number of motion-picture musicals, including Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936), and Carefree (1938), which all starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. His hit tunes for the movies include “Cheek to Cheek” (1935) and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” (1936). Berlin later moved back to New York City. He composed the songs for the Broadway musical Louisiana Purchase (1940). Berlin’s most highly praised musical was perhaps Annie Get Your Gun (1946), which features such songs as “Anything You Can Do,” “Doin’ What Comes Naturally,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and “They Say It’s Wonderful.” Other musicals by Berlin include The Cocoanuts (1925), Face the Music (1932), As Thousands Cheer (1933), This Is the Army (1942), Miss Liberty (1949), and Call Me Madam (1950).
In addition to composing for musicals, Berlin wrote individual compositions. Among the most popular are “All Alone” (1924); “Always” and “Remember” (both 1925); “Blue Skies” (1926); and “Say It Isn’t So” and “How Deep Is the Ocean?” (both 1932). He died on Sept. 22, 1989.
See also Annie Get Your Gun .
