Irving Berlin Biography

An image titled "Irving Berlin (1888-1989)". On the left is a photograph of Irving Berlin seated in a suite on the piano. To the right is a short biography of Berlin that reads: Irving Berlin was born Israel Beilin in Tolochin, Byelorussia (present day Belarus), the son of a Jewish cantor (singer). In 1893, his family emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. Berlin’s father died young, leaving him to help support the family. For money, Berlin worked odd jobs and sang on the street for coins. Eventually, his voice got him a job as a “singing waiter” in a cafe in Chinatown. While working day jobs, he also began composing his own songs. He had his first song, “Marie from Sunny Italy” published in 1907. In 19011, he published “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” a song that would propel him to international stardom. Over the next five decades, Berlin would pen songs still known and loved today, including “White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Puttin’ on The Ritz,” and “God Bless America.” Berlin’s work as a songwriter spanned the coasts, from Broadway to Hollywood. His songs continue to be featured today, with his music being featured in movies such as Spider Man 3 (2007), Downton Abbey (2011) and the teaser trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux (2023). In total, Berlin wrote over 800 songs in his career. In addition to being a songwriter, Berlin was a formative businessman, co-founding ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), founding his own music publishing company, and building with producer Sam Harris his own Broadway theatre, The Music Box.

Irving Berlin Biography

Related Lessons

lesson:
Immigration and Ellis Island featuring Irving Berlin and Bruce Springsteen

Grades: High

Subjects: Social Studies/History

What was Ellis Island, and what might have been the experience of Europeans who immigrated to the United States at the turn of the century?