Irving Berlin (1888–1989) was a Russian-born American songwriter, widely regarded as one of the greatest in history. Born Israel Beilin in Belarus, he immigrated to the U.S. as a child, growing up in ...

But Berlin’s life as a Russian-born Jew in America was as fraught as many American lives. Case in point: his interfaith marriage to debutante Ellin Mackay, which in the 1920s set tongues wagging.

Irving Berlin was born on this day in history, May 11, 1888. The composer would go on to write 800 songs, many of them American classics, after starting his career as a boy singing in the streets.

Irving Berlin Biography Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidor Baline on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire. Towering composer, songwriter, ("God Bless America", "Always", "Blue Skies ...

Irving Berlin was a Jewish immigrant who loved America. As his 1938 song “God Bless America” suggests, he believed deeply in the nation’s potential for goodness, unity and global leadership.

When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. By Eric Grode IRVING BERLIN New York Genius By James Kaplan Sometimes the hypersophisticated ...

In his 2019 biography, “Irving Berlin: New York Genius,” written for the Yale Jewish Lives series, James Kaplan tells how the by-then world famous, irresistibly witty and sometimes satirical ...

Audio will be available later today. Robert Kimball is the editor of the new book, The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin (Knopf) which he compiled with Berlins daughter, Linda Emmet.

Certainly, Berlin’s biography presents the raw material for a bang-up musical. The problem with “The Melody Lingers On,” at the El Portal, is that it is a musical revue masquerading as a ...