Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin on May 11, 1888) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His music forms a significant part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in the United States at age five. He published his first song at 19 and gained fame with 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' in 1911. Berlin wrote approximately 1,500 songs during his 60-year career, including hits like 'White Christmas' and 'There's No Business Like Show Business.' He had a unique style due to his inability to read music and could only play the piano in F-sharp, often using a custom piano with a transposing lever. His music earned him numerous awards and honors, and he is celebrated for capturing the essence of American spirit and ideals through his work【25†source】.