Composer of the Month 7/2013: Irving Berlin (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

USA 15.9.2002 The video shows Betty Hutton and Howard Keel, with one of the most famous tunes by Irving Berlin from the American musical comedy "Annie Get Your Gun." The American composer Irving Berlin (actually Israel Isidore Beilin ) was born as the son of a cantor in what now is Belarus on 11 May 1888. Berlin's parents emigrated in 1891 with her seven children to the United States. After the early death of his father, he earned himself as a "Singing Waiter" in a New York café his money and taught himself to play the piano. Since he could not read or write sheet music, he composed by ear and had a worldwide hit with the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band". Irving Berlin composed many tunes that are still considered jazz standards. From 1920 he also worked for the film. The song "White Christmas" from the Bing Crosby movie "Holiday Inn" was a great success and his song "God Bless America" even became the unofficial anthem of the United States. His greatest success Irving Berlin achieved in 1946 with the musical comedy "Annie Get Your Gun." Irving Berlin died on 22 September 1989 at the age of 101 in New York City. This year, the music world is celebrating his 125th Birthday. More composer can be found in the members only section