Irving Berlin: From Penniless Immigrant to America’s Songwriter

Irving Berlin and his family fled anti-Jewish Russia before he went on to become one of America’s most popular commercial composers. As a self-taught pianist, Berlin is responsible for many hit songs such as God Bless America, White Christmas, as well as the musical Annie Get Your Gun.
Author Paul Kaplan traces the path of the man behind the songs through this rags-to-riches story and Berlin’s place in the music business in the early twentieth century, including the tragedies that befell him on this journey.