Irving Berlin collection of noncommercial sound recordings, 1933-1989

Links

• View catalog record
• View finding aid

Creator

Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989.

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound

Extent

• 555 sound recordings.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Users never directly handle sound recordings. Listening selections are transmitted through a playback system.

Scope/Contents Note

This collection contains non-commercial recordings of Irving Berlin and his music. The recordings are from radiobroadcasts, live performances, and private recordings. Theperformers on the recordings include Bing Crosby, RosemaryClooney, Eddie Fisher, Al Jolson, Ethel Merman and Kate Smith. Some of the gems in the collection include Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" for the first time and the first London performance of "Annie Get Your Gun."

Biographical/Historical Notes

Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was one of the great American songwriters of the 20th century. In 1907 he published hisfirst song, "Marie From Sunny Italy" and by 1911 he had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Over the next five decades, Irving Berlin wrote many ballads, dance numbers, novelty tunes and love songs that defined American popular song for much of the century.

He wrote seventeen complete scores for Broadway musicalsand revues, and contributed material to six more. Among the shows featuring all-Berlin scores are "The Cocoanuts,""As Thousands Cheer," "Louisiana Purchase," "Miss Liberty," "Mister President," "Call Me Madam" and "Annie Get Your Gun." Among the Hollywood movies with scores by Irving Berlin are "Top Hat," "Follow The Fleet," "On The Avenue,""Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Holiday Inn," "This Is The Army," "Blue Skies," "Easter Parade," "White Christmas" and "There's No Business Like Show Business."

Irving Berlin was a co-founder of ASCAP, founder of his own music publishing company, and, with producer Sam Harris, built his own Broadway Theatre, the Music Box. Through many of his foundations, including the God Bless America Fund and This Is The Army Inc. he donated millionsof dollars in royalties to Army Emergency Relief, the Boy and Girl Scouts and other organizations.

Controlled Access Terms

• Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989.
• Radio programs, Musical -- United States.
• Popular music -- United States.
• Musicals.
• Motion picture music.
• Musical films.

Additional Creator Names

• Crosby, Bing, 1903-1977.
• Clooney, Rosemary.
• Fisher, Eddie.
• Jolson, Al, d. 1950.
• Merman, Ethel.
• Smith, Kate, 1907-1986.