Irving Berlin

 Irving Berlin, born Israel Isidore Beilin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989)

Widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history, his music forms a great part of The Great American Songbook. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", in 1907 and had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. He also was an owner of the Broadway theater the Music Box Theatre. Berlin wrote hundreds of songs, many becoming major hits, which made him "a legend" before he turned thirty. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films, with his songs nominated eight times for Academy Awards. Many songs became popular themes and anthems, including "Easter Parade", "White Christmas", "Happy Holiday", "This Is the Army, Mr. Jones", and "There's No Business Like Show Business". His Broadway musical and 1942 film, This is the Army, with Ronald Reagan, had Kate Smith singing Berlin's "God Bless America" which was first performed in 1938. In addition, Berlin's songs have reached the top of the charts 25 times and have been extensively re-recorded by numerous singers, such as Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Ethel Waters, Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Rosemary Clooney, Al Jolson, and Billie Holiday, among others. Berlin died in his sleep on September 22, 1989 of natural causes, in New York City at the age of 101. He is interred Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.