Irving Berlin (1888–1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His music forms a great part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in the United States at the age of five. He published his first song, “Marie from Sunny Italy”, in 1907, receiving 33 cents for the publishing rights, and had his first major international hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 1911. He also was an owner of the Music Box Theatre on Broadway. It is commonly believed that Berlin could not read sheet music, and was such a limited piano player that he could only play in the key of F-sharp unless using his custom piano equipped with a transposing lever.
Source: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) • READ: Works by Irving Berlin
Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Attitude, Acceptance
The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in business. You’ve got to keep working that talent.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Success & Failure, Success is not everything, Strength, Success, Winning
Talent is only the starting point.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Talent
There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Truth
There’s no business like show business.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Media
Got no checkbooks, got no banks,
Still I’d like to express my thanks –
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.
—Irving Berlin
Topics: Attitude
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Arthur Rubinstein American Pianist
Duke Ellington American Musician
Aaron Copland American Composer
George Gershwin American Composer
Sidney Hook American Social Philosopher
Leonard Bernstein American Composer, Conductor
Eugene O’Neill American Playwright
Fred Astaire American Dancer, Singer
Bob Hope British-born American Comedian, Film Actor
Larry King American TV Personality