Biography of Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin Biography

Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 - September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist.

Born Israel Isidore Baline, in Tyumen, Siberia, he emigrated to the United States in 1893 with the rest of his family. Following the death of his father in 1896, Irving found himself having to work to survive. He did various street jobs including selling newspapers and busking. The harsh economic reality of having to work or starve was to have a lasting effect on the way Irving treated money. In 1911 the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" launched a musical career that would span over a thousand songs including many hit Broadway musicals.

Irving's first credited song lyrics were for "Marie from Sunny Italy" in 1907, the year he changed his name. He was paid 37 cents for this song.

In 1917 during World War I, while he staged a musical revue Yip Yip Yaphank while at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. The revue was a patriotric tribute to the United States Army. Berlin composed the song "God Bless America" for the revue but decided against using it. The revue, as well as the fictionalized account of its production, were later included in the 1943 movie This Is the Army featuring other Berlin songs, including the famous title piece, as well as a full-length rendition of "God Bless America" by Kate Smith.

He was responsible for many Hollywood film scores including Top Hat (1935) as well as songs such as "White Christmas" from the film Holiday Inn (1942). Irving was equally as prolific on Broadway, where he is perhaps best known for Annie Get Your Gun (1946), although he stopped writing after the failure of Mr President in 1962. Becoming a virtual recluse in his last years, Berlin didn't attend the 100th birthday party held in his honor.

Irving Berlin died in New York, New York at age 101 and was interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

Irving Berlin Biography

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Irving Berlin Piano Sheet Music

    Irving Berlin: White Christmas (Movie Vocal Selections) Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord diagrams and introductory text. Christmas, Holiday and Standards. 56 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.
Average customer rating:

    Irving Berlin: Annie Get Your Gun Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From the Broadway musical "Annie Get your Gun". Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics and chord names. Broadway and Standards. 48 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.
Average customer rating:

    Irving Berlin: Anthology Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord diagrams, introductory text and black & white photos. Standards and Broadway. 280 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

    Irving Berlin's God Bless America & Other Songs For A Better Nation For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Americana. 119 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

    Irving Berlin: Sisters Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From the motion picture "White Christmas". Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Movies, Standards and Christmas. C Major. 4 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

    Irving Berlin: White Christmas Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Christmas, Holiday and Standards. C Major. 6 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.
Average customer rating:

    Irving Berlin: Always Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Standards, Vocal Standards and Traditional Pop. F Major. 6 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

    Irving Berlin: Anything You Can Do Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From "Annie Get Your Gun". Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Broadway and Standards. C Major. 7 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Cherry Lane Music.

    Irving Berlin: What'll I Do Performed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Standards and Traditional Pop. C Major. 5 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

    Celine Dion: God Bless America (Pop Version) Performed by Celine Dion, composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Adult Contemporary, Pop Vocal and Americana. 5 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

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		Irving Berlin: White Christmas (Movie Vocal Selections) Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord diagrams and introductory text. Christmas, Holiday and Standards. 56 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. Average customer rating:

		Irving Berlin: Annie Get Your Gun Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From the Broadway musical "Annie Get your Gun". Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics and chord names. Broadway and Standards. 48 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. Average customer rating:

		Irving Berlin: Anthology Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord diagrams, introductory text and black & white photos. Standards and Broadway. 280 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

		Irving Berlin's God Bless America & Other Songs For A Better Nation For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Americana. 119 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

		Irving Berlin: Sisters Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From the motion picture "White Christmas". Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Movies, Standards and Christmas. C Major. 4 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

		Irving Berlin: White Christmas Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Christmas, Holiday and Standards. C Major. 6 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. Average customer rating:

		Irving Berlin: Always Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Standards, Vocal Standards and Traditional Pop. F Major. 6 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

		Irving Berlin: Anything You Can Do Composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. From "Annie Get Your Gun". Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Broadway and Standards. C Major. 7 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Cherry Lane Music.

		Irving Berlin: What'll I Do Performed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Standards and Traditional Pop. C Major. 5 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.

		Celine Dion: God Bless America (Pop Version) Performed by Celine Dion, composed by Irving Berlin. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords single. With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Adult Contemporary, Pop Vocal and Americana. 5 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.