Irving Berlin: New York Genius

by James Kaplan

From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, a fast-moving, musically astute portrait of arguably the greatest composer of American popular music

Irving Berlin (1888–1989) has been called—by George Gershwin, among others—the greatest songwriter of the golden age of the American popular song. “Berlin has no place in American music,” legendary composer Jerome Kern wrote; “he is American music.” In a career that spanned an astonishing nine decades, Berlin wrote some fifteen hundred tunes, including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “God Bless America,” and “White Christmas.” From ragtime to the rock era, Berlin’s work has endured in the very fiber of American national identity.

Exploring the interplay of Berlin’s life with the life of New York City, noted biographer James Kaplan offers a visceral narrative of Berlin as self-made man and witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. This fast-paced, musically opinionated biography uncovers Berlin’s unique brilliance as a composer of music and lyrics. Masterfully written and psychologically penetrating, Kaplan’s book underscores Berlin’s continued relevance in American popular culture.

Genres: Biography, Music, Judaism, Audiobook, Jewish

424 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

James Kaplan has been writing noted biography, journalism, and fiction for more than four decades. The author of Frank: The Voice and Sinatra: The Chairman, the definitive two-volume biography of Frank Sinatra, he has written more than one hundred major profiles of figures ranging from Miles Davis to Meryl Streep, from Arthur Miller to Larry David.

Reviews

[Biblio Files (takingadayoff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems a safe bet that this will be the definitive biography of Irving Berlin for some time. Although Berlin was a constant presence throughout most of the 20th century, he valued his privacy. He did leave a large collection of papers and interviews about bis work, but his personal life is not well known. He never wrote a memoir or kept a diary as such, and did not want his life dramatized on film or on stage. James Kaplan filled in the many blanks with interviews with two of Berlin's daughters, Mary Ellin Barrett and Linda Emmett. The result is a fully formed portrait of the songwriter, from his arrival in New York as a Russian immigrant.

It's a treat of a book, and my only criticism is that it needs more photographs. There's the cover portrait and a frontispiece, but my review copy had no other photos and there is no indication that the finished book will have any more. Recommended for Berlin fans, American social history buffs, immigrant historians, and anyone who likes a good rags to riches story.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for a digital review copy.)

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sped through this delightful biography of Irving Berlin in two days. From the Preface to the end, I was totally captivated.

James Kaplan presents the iconic composer's nine-decade contribution to the Great American Songbook through Berlin's work, personal experience, and as a Jewish immigrant. It's a rags-to-riches story based on Berlin's intense work ethic, but he was also helped along by friends and peers.

Everyone knows Berlin's God Bless America. It was written during WWI but was set aside until WWII when Berlin dusted it off and finally shared it with the world. It was the right song at the right time. White Christmas is another well-beloved Berlin song that matched its time, resonating with WWII troops across the world.

Berlin was criticized for his patriotic song--because he was an immigrant. The Beilin/Baline family fled Russia's pogroms to settle in New York City. Berlin's father was a cantor, usually unemployed. After his father's early death, Berlin left home to fend for himself. The story of Berlin's years on the street, selling newspapers and busking Tin Pan Alley songs, exemplifies his life-long work ethic, pluck, and luck.

Unable to read or write music, Berlin worked with a series of artists who brought what Berlin heard in his head to the page.

As a Jew, Berlin encountered the rampant anti-Semitism leading up to WWII.

Berlin created a Christmas song without religion and his Easter Parade brought a secular vision of the most important Christian celebration.

I was familiar with many of Berlin's hits because I have been a sheet music collector for forty years.

Berlin revived Rag Time with his megahit march Alexander's Ragtime Band which George Gershwin considered "the first real American musical work."

WWI found Berlin conscripted, supporting the troops with a traveling revue, Yip Yip Yaphank. Actual soldiers performed. His song Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning resonated with millions.

The musical revue was Berlin's favorite venue to write for.

Berlin opened the Music Box Theatre to present his revues.

Berlin wrote for Hollywood, including the music for the Marx Brother's first film The Cocoanuts.

During WWII, Berlin revived his revue Yip Yip Yaphank, taking the show on the road to soldiers at both fronts of the war. A movie version of the revue was released as This Is The Army.

During the war, other songwriters had successful shows on Broadway. Berlin chose to support the troops over advancing his career. He was exhausted and personally broke by war's end, struggling to adapt to peacetime.

Berlin came to write Annie Get Your Gun after the death of Jerome Kern and he was offered to replace his dear friend.

Berlin was exhausted from taking his revue across the world. He was worried about writing for a Western, female character. It was his biggest challenge and he excelled, creating his best work.

Berlin did the remarkable: he asked for a lower share of royalty percentage and that the show's producers Rodgers and Hammerstein and librettists Dorothy and Herbert Fields share equal billing with him on all publicity and sheet music.

His later work never met with the same success.

Berlin lived to be 101 years old.

Berlin's friends and peers populate the biography as well, including Harold Arlen, a fellow wordsmith and cantor's son. (Read my review of Arlen's biography, The Man Who Got Away by Walter Rimler, here.)

I was given access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

Kaplan's book is a part of Yale University Press's series on Jewish Lives.

[Chris Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! I read this on Audible and wish they would have included a music track so I could hear the songs real time as they became part of the story. I shuffled back and forth from YouTube so I could get the whole effect.

Super interesting and a very clever lyricist. I was surprised he couldn’t read music. The innate skill of this songwriter showed up in his prolific music creations.

And I got a really good feel of New York and Broadway during, especially the tasting period.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t finish but want to!

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Irving Berlin. My cat's name is a compromise between two people my husband and I admire (Kyrie) Irving (Berlin). He wrote song after song that I sing on a regular basis, including one of the most romantic songs ever written: "Always".

Even if you don't think you know his work, you do. "White Christmas", "God Bless America", "Blue Skies", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Puttin' on the Ritz", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "Cheek to Cheek", "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)", "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody", "Lazy", "Easter Parade", "Say it Isn't So", "You'd Be Surprised", "How Deep is the Ocean?", "This Year's Kisses", "Mandy", "Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning": all by Irving Berlin.

I always read that Berlin was a private man, especially as he got older. Even though he lived to be 101, he didn't go out much when he retired and only corresponded with a few special people (including songwriter Harold Arlen). Reading a book about his life was therefore more tantalizing.

Berlin was an immigrant who grew up quickly. His father couldn't hold a job so his kids were on their own from an early age. He became a song-plugger in rough bars in NYC making pennies where he could, and only by accident discovered songwriting. He never became a proficient pianist, preferring to use a transposing piano to learning how to change keys to write his songs. His song was slight and husky, but it did the job. When success hit, his work ethic didn't. Instead of riding waves of success, Berlin worked and worked and worked, throwing classic songs together in the evening hours seemingly without effort. He transcended the generations, finding a solid place in American culture for more than forty years.

One thing that constantly comes to light in this biography is how heavily ingrained in world culture racism was. The quotes and slang of the period are heavily peppered with slurs in casual use.

It was a thrill when I found my library had this book on audio.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man was a legend in his own time (1888-1989) and beyond. He set the stage for so many others and a good number of them are still being reworked today. His drive was his own, but there was a lot of motivation coming from an early life in the tenement of New York's lower East side as a family of Jews from the hazards of Mother Russia, and later being widowed at 26 shortly after the honeymoon.
This account of his long life owes much to ephemera left behind and shared by his daughters. I learned a lot about 20th century musical and social history as well as the fascinating person who was Irving Berlin.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Yale University Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thoroughly enjoyable, comprehensive and meticulously researched book was fascinating from beginning to end. My copy from NetGalley had no photos, which I would have liked, but apart from that minor quibble I wholeheartedly recommend this excellent biography.

[James Scheid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written biography of one of a great American song writers. Berlin came to this country as a 5 year fleeing the programs of Imperial Russia against the Jews. Success came early for this song writer. One , who when he got started , could not read or write music but had the music in his head and had others write it down. He was a brilliant lyricist who struggled to write simple but clever lyrics. His story reads like a Horatio Alger story for he went from rags to riches in real life. Berlin's life demonstrates how a poor immigrant can rise to enrich American culture. This is a biography written with deep appreciation, respect and affection but not one afraid to show flaws. Even with Berlin, fear of failure was always present. Kaplan's writing style is so vivid, one wonders if there will be a new Irving Berlin musical on the horizon.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Kaplan’s new addition to The Jewish Lives series is a workman-like biography of Irving Berlin. Kaplan is a good writer who presents the facts of Berlin’s life and let’s the reader interpret them. For instance, I’ve read several bios in the series and I assume the authors are supposed to write about the subject’s Jewish identity (or sometimes lack of identity), which in Irving Berlin’s case seemed to be troublesome. Neither of his wives were Jewish and I couldn’t tell if he’d ever had a Jewish girlfriend. Should Kaplan have written about that? I think it should have been touched upon.

The reason I’m rating the book as a 3 star instead of a 4 star, which I would normally have done, was the shocking lack of pictures. Kaplan gives descriptions of pictures but he (or the publisher) didn’t include any in the text. I read the book using a Kindle app on my mini-iPad so I can look things up on Wikipedia. Thanks God, Wikipedia has an “images” section so I could look up pictures of most of the people referred to by Peter Kaplan in his text.

I can recommend reading Kaplan’s book, but just know going in about the lack of pictures.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan and follower of James Kaplan for some time and share his fascination with modern music interpretation and composers. His two volumes bio of Frank Sinatra was so comprehensive and covered so many of the composers and lyricists that I appreciate.
I did not miss a word in my consumption of IRVING BERLIN and found every fact and meaning vital to understanding all that made IB the most important composer and lyricist of the 20th century. His struggles through an impoverished childhood, his lack of a successful supporting father and all the society challenges made his contributions that much more impressive.
Kaplan uses the previous resources and biographers who documented Berlin’s life but adds his own insight and understanding of how Berlin approached the task of writing a song. The amount of music he created was astounding but not every song warranted an “A”.
He compared himself to other colleagues and certainly knew where Rodgers, Arlen, Gershwin, Porter and Kern could not be matched. But his dedication to his adopted country, his pride in its people made him a perfect representative of his Jewish ethics and cultural contributions. The book is a perfect inclusion in Yale University Press’s Jewish Lives Series.
It’s always an obvious trait to biographers that the music geniuses always suffered from depression. Every biography that I’ve read of popular composers seems to spotlight a shared problem with depression. Maybe that’s part of a talented life, but the miracle is that they were able to overcome the challenge and create beauty in spite of the malady.
Upon reflection, Berlin, like Sinatra was born with one specific extraordinary talent. They were incapable of succeeding at anything else. They recognized and pursued their passion and left a legacy for all the world and new interpreters. Even decades after their deaths, the recorded music is accessible to each of us to experience and lift us out of sadness.

[JLTobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile Read, with One Gripe

James Kaplan’s Irving Berlin: New York Genius is a fast-paced introduction to the musical brilliance, business acumen and personal story of one of America’s most celebrated composers, lyricists and showmen.

Raised in poverty on New York’s Lower East Side, Berlin earned money for his family by singing popular tunes in neighborhood saloons. Captivated by popular music, he was writing songs professionally by his teens and had achieved worldwide fame by the age of 23 with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”

Over the next 50 years, Berlin was synonymous with American popular music, penning such perennial favorites as “Cheek to Cheek,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Easter Parade,” “White Christmas,” and “God Bless America.”

A remarkably astute businessman, Berlin ran his own music publishing business, successfully negotiated hard-hitting contracts with Hollywood’s premier studios, and was a part-owner of New York’s Music Box Theater, initially constructed to house his Broadway shows.

Berlin’s success was matched by his generosity and patriotism. He mounted successful Broadway revues to earn millions on behalf of the U.S. Army in both World War I and World War II. He assigned his royalties for “God Bless America” to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

This biography provides a fine introduction to Berlin’s oeuvre and personal life. In stark contrast to his professional success, Berlin’s life was punctuated by a series of untimely deaths in his immediate family. Always prone to anxiety, he suffered and managed to emerge from crippling bouts of depression in the last decades of his life.

[Phil Atteberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are only going to read one Irving Berlin biography, this would be a good choice. Lawrence Bergreen's As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, is the most panoramic of the Berlin biographies and gives one the best of sense Irving Berlin's world. But most of Bergreen's book was written before Berlin's death, and Bergreen did not have access to Berlin's papers and unpublished material. Thus, Bergreen's book contains a few factual errors. Edward Jablonski's Irving Berlin: American Troubador is the most complete book in terms of biographical detail, but Jablonski's prose sometimes makes for labored reading. Philip Furia's Irving Berlin: A Life in Song is a somewhat shorter book with lots of excellent musical analysis (especially of the lyrics) but does not pretend to be a thorough biography.

James Kaplan's biography captures some of the strengths of these three previous books. It doesn't capture all of the color and texture of Bergreen's book, but it captures some. The biographical detail is not as complete as Jablonski's book, but this is a thorough, cradle to grave, biography. The musical analysis is not as extensive as Furia's, but Kaplan nonetheless discusses Irving Berlin's major work in an insightful way.

If you are interested in Irving Berlin, this book is definitely worth reading.

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally named Israel Beilin, he was the baby of a Jewish family who had immigrated from Russia, eventually reaching New York and living a new life in the Jewish slums. His father, for whatever reason, was unable to find work while his mother did, and after his father died, he dropped out of school to find work to help support his family. He sang for money, and eventually he would advance in the local music business and find better and better work. Being naturally adept at music, he would eventually not only sing but play and compose music, his "Alexander's Ragtime Band" being the song that made his reputation.

For the next several decades, he would write many more songs, both for local theater and eventually the Hollywood film industry, having had ups and downs and tragedies and periodic emotional problems, as well as one wife who tragically died young of disease and then another wife who would be with him for much longer. In his old age, popular music tastes changed to the point where he could no longer adapt; but he had made enough to keep him fed for the rest of his long life.

The book is topnotch; it avoids repetition and overdetailing which spoils so many other biographies. Surprisingly, though, he never mentions the 1983 techno version of "Puttin' On The Ritz", which Berlin certainly knew about. A minor disappointment in an otherwise great book.

[Tom James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favourite songs are out of the "American Songbook" genre of Gershwin, Porter, Rogers, Kern, and Berlin. And of those songwriters, I think my favourite might be Berlin. The sheer number of great songs--sentimental ballads, sophisticated dance tunes, humorous pieces, patriotic numbers, and holiday favourites, and Berlin wrote them all,--is astounding. The author takes us from Berlin's humble origins as a Russian immigrant singing parodies on the streets of New York to a Tin Pan Alley songwriter who strikes it big with "Alexander's Ragtime Band", through his rise to fame as America's composer, writing hit after hit throughout the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Writing hit show tunes for 45 years is a considerable achievement that few (if any) others have come close to achieving.Well researched, this bio describes many of Berlin's personal and professional struggles, including his struggles with depression in his old age, dealing with his inability to write hits the way he used to in the past. The book does not shy away from showing Berlin's flaws, but remains respectful of the man and his achievements throughout.

[Mich · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the American Songbook, this is the book to read about the great(est) progenitor- Irving Berlin. Born in 1888 as Israel Baline in Belorussia to orthodox parents, he was the youngest of eight.The family came to the US and Izzy worked at 13, finding his metier at 21, having sold a song only to get $25 rather than collect royalties. He never made that mistake again.
This book describes in delicious chronological detail the genesis of his songwriting genius and his devotion to America.
Impossible to pick out the most memorable songs and impossible to put down, just read it and rejoice for this great life.

[Flewts · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like biographies, if you have a real interest in music, musicals, the process of writing music, and of course, Irving Berlin, you will enjoy this book. Not light reading, but very informative about a man who did not want his personal life exposed in a biography, at least not during his lifetime. He was a workaholic, dedicated to perfection, and his own worst critic. And he suffered from debilitating bouts of depression, understandable considering the losses he experienced during his lifetime. He wanted his music to be his story, and what a story it tells.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for our history book club. The general feeling was that the author presented an excellent overview of Berlin's music impact on Broadway, movies and American culture generally. It's shortcoming was in painting a picture of Berlin's life, relationships, character and personality. A youTube video from the Biography channel filled in those gaps. Those who had little interest in music of the 20's-60's (the Great American Songbook era) didn't appreciate the book.

[Stuart Shiffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sat on my shelf for nearly a year because there was always something I wanted to read before I got to it. But once I started, I could not stop. There is much to learn regarding the life of man whose love of his adopted country was incredible. James Kaplan also wrote a two volume biography of Frank Sinatra, another wonderful book. One of the best books of recent years.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before there was vinyl, how did song composers make money?

They published sheet music.

At the time of the stock market crash in 1929, Irving Berlin was worth in todays dollars, an amazing $70 million. He was fortunate to have married fluently that kept things afloat.

But, Berlin didn’t rest on his laurels. His work ethic was unmatched.

Berlin was so much more than “White Christmas”.

An extraordinary read, especially around this time of the year.

[Gary Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this biography of the great songwriter Irving Berlin. James Kaplan is the author of the two volume biography of Frank Sinatra, and he brings his considerable talent to this concise book. It’s part of the Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had of course heard of Irving Berlin and knew a few songs that he had written (White Christmas, God Bless America, Easter Parade) but know nothing else. This is an excellent overview of his life and career, though it does get a bit long.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting biography of the musical genius Irving Berlin. I've been a fan of his music for many years, and it was fascinating to learn the history of the songs. And I would have never imagined that he was a man with self doubt who battled depression for many years.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful book! Thank you James Kaplan. From Alexaner's Ragtime Band through God Bless America and White Christmas, with so many wonderful stops along the way. One of the greatest songwriters in American musical history.

[Natalie L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Berlin is an American icon who, as a young immigrant, loved his country and was proud to be a part of it. An American icon, his life was fascinating: the times, people, music, and history. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy biographies, history, and music.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and well researched biography. i learnt a lot and was happy i read it.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography was well researched and contained a lot of information that I hadn’t previously read in other books. The author’s attention to detail is evident in the writing. Highly recommend!

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in the Jewish Lives Series from Yale University Press. If this is a typical example of both the writing and the physical product, then sign me up for some more!

[Dean Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen to audio book

[Patrick Macke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful, ingenious, productive, singular American ... Reading about these songs plays a soundtrack in my mind, one shared by so many generations ... We all owe an unpayable debt to Mr. Berlin

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin by Laurence Bergreen