The songs of Irving Berlin have been part of America's culture for so long that it is hard to imagine life without him now that he is gone.
From his first song in 1907 to his last musical show in 1962, Berlin dominated Tin Pan Alley, Broadway and Hollywood not only longer but also more intensively than any other composer.What's more, his songs were so highly popular that Berlin set the tone and the tempo for the tunes America played and danced to for much of the 20th century. By turn romantic and tragic, feisty and sentimental, homespun and sophisticated, Berlin's tunes captured the rhythms of this nation through war and peace, depression and prosperity. So timeless were their appeal that his songs have become hits over and over.
His life was the classic rags-to-riches story. Born 101 years ago in a village near Russia's Siberian border, Berlin was only four when he saw his family's ramshackle home burned to ashes by persecutors of Jews. After the family came to America and settled in New York City's Lower East Side, Berlin started working when he was only 8 following the death of his father. Though Berlin's childhood was poor in material things, it provided him with a rich knowledge of human nature. His native talent was, of course, immense.
But by the time he was 30, Berlin - a shrewd businessman as well as an accomplished composer - was wealthy and famous. He went on to write the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films.
Irving Berlin never forgot that his success could have happened only in America. For its part, America will never forget the songs and the genius of this prolific composer who shaped this nation's popular music.