Irving Berlin 1888-1989

Irving Berlin’s Life Born on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, which is now the country of Belarus Birth name was Israel Beilin. His family immigrated to the US in 1893. Berlin was 13 when his father died. Irving had to work to survive. Worked as a singing waiter at Pelham's Cafe in Chinatown

Irving Berlin’s Life Berlin was asked by the restaurant owner to write an original song for the cafe because a rival tavern had had their own song published. The song, “Marie from Sunny Italy,” was published when Berlin was 19 years old and it earned him 37 cents. It gave him a new career and a new name: Israel Beilin was misprinted as "I. Berlin" on the sheet music.

Irving Berlin’s Life Wrote songs for Broadway & Hollywood Wrote “White Christmas,” “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “God Bless America,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Blue Skies” Died on Sept. 22, 1989 at the age of 101

“God Bless America” Berlin originally wrote the song in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army but decided that it did not fit in a revue called Yip Tip Yaphank, so he set it aside. In 1938, with the rise of Hitler, Berlin, who was Jewish, and a first-generation European immigrant, felt it was time to revive it as a "peace song“ It was introduced on an Armistice Day broadcast in 1938 sung by Kate Smith, on her radio show.

Armistice Day The anniversary of the symbolic end of World War I on Nov 11, 1918. The cease fire took effect at 11 am - the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month." Now called Veteran’s Day

“Blue Skies” Published in 1927 Became a #1 hit That same year it became one of the first songs to be featured in a “talkie," when Al Jolson performed it in The Jazz Singer.

“There’s No Business Like Show Business” Introduced in the musical “Annie Get Your Gun” (about Annie Oakley) The song is sung by members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in an attempt to persuade Annie Oakley to join the Wild West Show.

Links to Berlin’s music “White Christmas” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yg5g_Xl-uU “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO23WBji_Z0&feature=related “Puttin’ on the Ritz” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVLswVdStw “God Bless America” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LSarhZpnMs “There’s No Business Like Show Business” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJvwpufbLyM “Blue Skies” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB-xqDZbEVQ