LEGENDS: Irving Berlin - America's Greatest Songwriter. "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Easter Parade", "There's No Business Like Show Business" And Many More!

Welcome to another Legends episode of Follow Your Dream, the award winning podcast and global arts platform.

Legends features profiles of iconic artists and influential figures who helped shape our culture.

This Legends episode spotlights Irving Berlin who was - simply put - one of the greatest songwriters of all time. 

Irving Berlin was born in Russia with the name Israel Beilin. He moved to America at age 5 with his family to escape the pogroms against the Jews.

He taught himself the piano and he composed only in the key of F#, meaning the black keys.

His songs captured the identity and feel of his adopted country. He was known for writing music and lyrics that were uncomplicated, simple and direct, with his stated aim being to "reach the heart of the average American". He received Academy, Tony and Grammy awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Over his 60 year career he wrote 1,500 songs, with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 1911 being his first hit. His catalog included the scores to 20 original Broadway shows and 15 original Hollywood films. His songs were nominated eight times for Academy Awards. 

Let’s listen now to excerpts from several of his greatest hits sung by the stars of his era. 

“God Bless America”, sung by Kate Smith; 

“Blue Skies”, sung by Frank Sinatra

“Easter Parade, sung by Judy Garland

“Cheek To Cheek” sung by Ella Fitzgerald

“There’s No Business Like Show Business” sung by Ethel Merman, and of course 

“White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby.

None other than George Gershwin called Irving Berlin “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived", and Jerome Kern, no slouch himself, said that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music—he is American music."