Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote songs that became part of American life. He was born in Russia and came to the United States as a child. He never learned to read music properly and played almost exclusively in the key of F-sharp, using a special transposing piano. This didn't stop him from writing melodies that felt instantly familiar, like 'White Christmas' and 'Cheek to Cheek'.

His work ranged from patriotic anthems to intimate love songs. 'God Bless America' became an unofficial national hymn, while 'What'll I Do' and 'Always' captured simpler, more personal emotions. He wrote for Broadway shows and Hollywood films, creating numbers like 'There's No Business Like Show Business' that celebrated entertainment itself.

During World War II, he wrote the revue 'This Is the Army' and toured with it to raise funds. The song 'Now It Can Be Told' came from that period. Berlin's output was staggering, over a thousand songs, and many have stayed in circulation through covers and holiday playlists. He lived to be 101, long enough to see his music become standard repertoire.