Irving Berlin

Date of Birth: May 11, 1888

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: September 22, 1989

Biography

Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. Born Israel Beilin on May 11, 1888, in Tyumen, Russian Empire, he emigrated to the United States with his family in 1893. They settled in New York City, where Berlin grew up in poverty. Despite his lack of formal education, he taught himself to play the piano and began his career as a singing waiter in Chinatown. Berlin’s breakthrough came with his 1911 song “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” which became a nationwide hit. Over his 60-year career, he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including iconic numbers like “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “Cheek to Cheek,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Berlin also composed scores for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. Berlin married Dorothy Goetz in 1912, but she tragically died of typhoid fever six months later. He later married Ellin Mackay, a Catholic heiress, in 1926. The couple faced opposition due to their religious differences but remained together until her death in 1988. Berlin died on September 22, 1989, in New York City, having left an indelible mark on American music.

5 Interesting Facts about Irving Berlin

1. Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas,” which remains the best-selling single of all time.

2. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1954 for his patriotic song “God Bless America.”

3. Berlin could only play the piano in one key (F-sharp) and used a custom piano with a transposing lever.

4. He was a co-founder of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).

5. Berlin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by President Gerald Ford.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Irving Berlin

1. “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.”

2. “Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.”

3. “I got lost but look what I found.”

4. “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.”

5. “There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Irving Berlin’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million, which is equivalent to over $100 million today when adjusted for inflation.

Children

Irving Berlin and Ellin Mackay had four children: 1. Mary Ellin Barrett (born 1926) 2. Linda Louise Emmet (born 1932) 3. Elizabeth Irving Peters (born 1936) 4. Irving Berlin Jr. (born in 1928, died in infancy)