Irving Berlin was a Russian-born American songwriter and composer whose music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook.
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald R. Ford in 1977.
Berlin was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to music.
Biography
Early Life
Irving Berlin, born Israel Beilin on May 11, 1888, in the Russian Empire, was the son of a Jewish cantor. His family emigrated to the United States in 1893, settling in New York City after a journey that included a stop in Antwerp. Growing up in a poor immigrant family, Berlin's early life was marked by hardship, but he later described his experiences as foundational to his identity and artistry.
Career
Berlin's career as a songwriter began in the bustling music scene of Tin Pan Alley, where he gained fame with his hit "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. This song catapulted him to stardom, and he went on to write an estimated 1,500 songs, including classics like "White Christmas" and "There's No Business Like Show Business." His work spanned Broadway and Hollywood, earning him numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and a Tony Award. Berlin's music became a significant part of the Great American Songbook, reflecting the American spirit and experience.
Personal Life
Berlin's personal life was marked by both love and loss. He married Dorothy Goetz in 1912, but she tragically died shortly after their honeymoon. Years later, he fell in love with Ellin Mackay, a Catholic heiress, and despite her father's disapproval, they married in 1926. Their relationship was a media sensation, showcasing the cultural tensions of the time.
Legacy
Irving Berlin passed away on September 22, 1989, leaving behind a legacy that shaped American music. His songs continue to resonate, with "White Christmas" recognized as the best-selling song in history. Berlin's contributions to music and culture earned him prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, solidifying his status as an American icon.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Ella Sings Irving Berlin: Jazz Manifesto2009
Tracklist not collected yet.
One Night on Broadway with Irving Berlin2007
- 1.How Deep Is the Ocean3:08
- 2.Supper Time3:03
- 3.It Only Happens When I Dance With You3:53
- 4.This Year’s Kisses2:03
- 5.I Never Had a Chance4:26
- 6.What’ll I Oo2:00
- 7.Homework3:15
- 8.Blue Skies3:03
- 9.Everybody Step2:45
- 10.I Got the Sun in the Morning2:36
- 11.Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me3:02
- 12.Reaching for the Moon2:43
- 13.Blue Skies3:21
- 14.After You Get What You Want, You Don’t Want It2:48
- 15.There’s No Business Like Show Business2:56
- 16.Puttin’ on the Ritz2:15
- 17.Steppin’ Out With My Baby6:27
- 18.Let’s Face the Music and Dance2:30
- 19.A Couple of Swells2:43
- 20.Cheek to Cheek3:09
- 21.Mr Monotony3:17
- 22.Heat Wave4:27
- 23.Lazy5:26
- 24.The Song Is Ended2:25
- 25.How Deep Is the Ocean?3:27
- 26.This Year’s Kisses6:42
- 27.Cheek to Cheek3:25
- 28.Blue Skies3:14
- 29.Russian Lullaby5:36
- 30.Alexander’s Ragtime Band3:46
- 31.Cheek to Cheek7:11
- 32.He Ain’t Got Rhythm2:49
- 33.Always6:40
- 34.I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket2:29
- 35.Blue Skies2:53
- 36.Isn’t It a Lovely Day3:36
- 37.I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm2:58
- 38.Alexander’s Ragtime Band3:04
- 39.My Walking Stick2:43
- 40.Remember2:38
- 41.Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil2:57
- 42.Isn’t It a Lovely Day2:27
- 43.I Used to Be Color Blind3:11
- 44.They Say It’s Wonderful2:59
Hans Christian Andersen / White Christmas2006
- 1.I'm Hans Christian Andersen2:37
- 2.Anywhere I Wander3:15
- 3.The Ugly Duckling3:05
- 4.Inch Worm3:12
- 5.Thumbelina1:46
- 6.No Two People2:23
- 7.The King's New Clothes3:31
- 8.Wonderful Copenhagen2:04
- 9.Medley: Blue Skies / I'd Rather See a Minstrel Show / Mandy3:51
- 10.Sisters2:26
- 11.The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing2:35
- 12.Snow2:41
- 13.Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep3:05
- 14.Choreography2:42
- 15.Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me3:01
- 16.What Can You Do With a General?2:56
- 17.Medley: The Old Man / Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army2:49
- 18.White Christmas (finale)3:19
Irving Berlin in Hollywood2005
- 1.Isn't This a Lovely Day4:26
- 2.Cheek to Cheek5:08
- 3.Top Hat, White Tie and Tails4:35
- 4.Shaking the Blues Away3:38
- 5.Steppin' Out With My Baby1:58
- 6.A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody2:18
- 7.Mandy4:27
- 8.Puttin' on the Ritz1:02
- 9.Let's Face the Music and Dance4:40
- 10.Blue Skies1:31
- 11.Let Me Sing and I'm Happy2:34
- 12.Heat Wave2:54
- 13.Marching Along With Time2:23
- 14.Alexander's Ragtime Band2:39
- 15.I Got the Sun in the Morning2:23
- 16.Colonel Buffalo Bill2:31
- 17.You Can't Get a Man With a Gun3:09
- 18.They Say It's Wonderful3:30
- 19.Anything You Can Do2:46
- 20.There's No Business Like Show Business2:36
- 21.Remember1:19
- 22.My Walking Stick2:15
- 23.All Alone0:53
- 24.Marie1:11
- 25.Mandy3:15
- 26.Blue Skies2:18
Blue Skies: Irving Berlin Songbook2005
- 1.Blue Skies3:08
- 2.Let Yourself Go2:16
- 3.You’re Just in Love3:42
- 4.Say It Isn’t So3:16
- 5.Slumming on Park Avenue2:21
- 6.Remember2:43
- 7.No Strings2:16
- 8.The Song Is Ended2:26
- 9.I Used to Be Color Blind3:07
- 10.How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)4:45
- 11.Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep3:11
- 12.Supper Time3:16
- 13.It’s a Lovely Day Today2:25
- 14.Always2:38
- 15.Top Hat, White Tie and Tails3:48
- 16.Isn’t This a Lovely Day?6:15
- 17.Let’s Face the Music and Dance3:14
- 18.Waiting at the End of the Road2:25
- 19.All by Myself2:26
- 20.Be Careful It’s My Heart2:26
- 21.They Say It’s Wonderful2:47
- 22.The Girl That I Marry2:59
- 23.You’re Laughing at Me3:19
- 24.I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm3:57
- 25.Change Partners3:15
- 26.Steppin’ Out With My Baby2:22
- 27.How About Me?3:14
- 28.Easter Parade3:14
- 29.Heat Wave1:49
- 30.Russian Lullaby1:52
- 31.Cheek to Cheek4:00
- 32.I Love a Piano2:39
- 33.Alexander’s Ragtime Band2:40
- 34.Puttin’ on the Ritz2:52
- 35.I Never Had a Chance4:21
- 36.Get Thee Behind Me Satan3:45
- 37.I Got Lost in His Arms4:51
- 38.They Say It’s Wonderful2:57
- 39.How’s Chances?2:45
- 40.You’re Easy To Dance With3:22
- 41.You Keep Coming Back Like a Song3:32
- 42.Now It Can Be Told3:42
- 43.I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket3:25
- 44.Doin’ What Comes Naturally3:12
- 45.You Can Have Him3:43
- 46.All of My Life3:18
G.M.O. Christmas Songs2005
- 1.Jingle Bells2:26
- 2.Joy To The World3:01
- 3.Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer2:21
- 4.Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town1:44
- 5.The First Noel2:28
- 6.Silent Night3:30
- 7.White Christmas3:15
- 8.Deck The Hall2:29
- 9.O Tannenbaum2:17
- 10.O Come, All Ye Faithful2:15
- 11.Angels We Have Heard On High2:36
- 12.Here Comes Santa Claus2:58
The Film Musicals Collection: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers2005
- 1.Bless Yore Beautiful Hide2:00
- 2.Wonderful, Wonderful Day2:43
- 3.Lonesome Polecat3:39
- 4.Goin’ Co’tin’2:53
- 5.Sobbin’ Women3:18
- 6.June Bride3:16
- 7.Spring, Spring, Spring2:24
- 8.When You’re in Love3:42
- 9.So in Love3:15
- 10.Were Thine That Special Face2:14
- 11.Wunderbar3:00
- 12.I’ve Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua2:09
- 13.Where Is the Life That Late I Led?4:27
- 14.I Can Do Without You1:45
- 15.Higher Than a Hawk (Deeper Than a Well)2:15
- 16.Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’1:12
- 17.The Surrey With the Fringe on Top1:02
- 18.Pore Jud Is Daid2:36
- 19.Oklahoma1:55
- 20.Make Believe3:33
- 21.Why Do I Love You?2:42
- 22.You Are Love3:27
- 23.The Girl That I Marry2:35
- 24.My Defences Are Down3:23
- 25.They Say It’s Wonderful3:02
- 26.Anything You Can Do3:20
Berlin for Brass2003
- 1.Let Yourself Go (arr. J. Krush)2:09
- 2.Top Hat, White Tie and Tails (arr. J. Krush)3:30
- 3.Blue Skies (arr. J. Krush)3:40
- 4.(I’ll See you in) Cuba (arr. J. Krush)2:31
- 5.Alexander’s Ragtime Band (arr. E. Solot)3:10
- 6.What’ll I Do? (arr. J. Krush)3:44
- 7.Puttin’ On the Ritz (arr. D. Sorenson)2:47
- 8.Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (arr. J. Krush)2:34
- 9.Supper Time (arr. J. Krush)4:34
- 10.Listening (arr. M. Hood)1:57
- 11.Heat Wave (arr. J. Krush)4:42
- 12.No Strings (arr. J. Krush)2:50
- 13.Lazy (arr. M. Hood)3:09
- 14.That International Rag (arr. J. Krush)3:15
- 15.They Say It’s Wonderful (arr. D. Sorenson)3:30
- 16.White Christmas (arr. E. Solot)3:34
- 17.Harlem On My Mind (arr. J. Krush)3:15
- 18.When I Lost You (arr. M. Hood)2:35
- 19.There’s No Business Like Show Business (arr. D. Sorenson)2:31
The Berlin Songbook2000
Tracklist not collected yet.
Kiri Sings Berlin1997
- 1.Let's Face the Music and Dance2:08
- 2.I Got the Sun in the Morning3:12
- 3.How Deep Is the Ocean?2:39
- 4.What'll I Do?3:46
- 5.Blue Skies2:38
- 6.It's a Lovely Day Today3:09
- 7.They Say It's Wonderful2:39
- 8.Say It Isn't So3:25
- 9.Cheek to Cheek3:26
- 10.Isn't This a Lovely Day?3:02
- 11.Always4:28
- 12.The Song Is Ended3:08
- 13.I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm2:49
- 14.It Only Happens When I Dance With You2:10
- 15.Easter Parade3:09
Top Hat White Tie & Tails: The Irving Berlin Songbook1995
- 1.Cheek to Cheek3:29
- 2.Doin' What Comes Natur'lly2:02
- 3.The Girl That I Marry2:22
- 4.Change Partners3:56
- 5.Isn't This a Lovely Day?2:18
- 6.It's a Lovely Day Today2:04
- 7.Let's Face the Music and Dance3:05
- 8.Top Hat, White Tie and Tails2:27
- 9.I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket2:06
- 10.There's No Business Like Show Business2:32
- 11.They Say It's Wonderful2:58
Always: The Great Songs of Irving Berlin1993
- 1.Always2:43
- 2.Blue Skies3:09
- 3.Easter Parade3:07
- 4.A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody2:22
- 5.I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm3:25
- 6.How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)2:35
- 7.Medley: Marie / Cheek to Cheek3:09
- 8.Remember3:10
- 9.They Say It's Wonderful3:46
- 10.Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk3:01
- 11.Soft Lights and Sweet Music3:26
- 12.Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee3:13
- 13.What'll I Do3:05
- 14.Top Hat, White Tie and Tails2:48
- 15.All Alone2:43
- 16.Say It With Music2:30
- 17.Count Your Blessings2:23
- 18.Alexander's Ragtime Band3:25
- 19.The Song Is Ended3:24
- 20.Sayonara2:57
American Songbook Series: Irving Berlin1992
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Irving Berlin Songbook: A Centennial Celebration1990
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Great Stars Salute Irving Berlin1990
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Song is ... Irving Berlin1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Irving Berlin Songs1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Columbia Album of Irving Berlin1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
Irving Berlin: A Hundred Years1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Decca Masters, Volume 21988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Irving Berlin 100th Anniversary Collection1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
Annie Get Your Gun1986
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Girl on the Magazine Cover: Songs of Irving Berlin1979
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ziegfeld Follies of 19191977
Tracklist not collected yet.
Miss Liberty
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Columbia Records
Achievements
- Award
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Congressional Gold Medal
- Award
- Medal of Liberty
- Award
- Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Original Score
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Annie Get Your Gun, Berlin, E.Berlins, I. Berlin, I. Berlins, I.Berlin
Irving Berlin was a Russian-born American songwriter and composer. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Berlin received numerous honors including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald R. Ford in 1977. The broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite stated he "helped write the story of this country, capturing the best of who we are and the dreams that shape our lives".
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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