IF YOU LIKE IRVING BERLIN, YOU'LL LOVE THIS MEDLEY

If you like Irving Berlin, You'll love this medley: Jerome Kern, the acknowledged Godfather of the Great American Songbook tradition has stated quite simply " That Irving Berlin is American Music"  High praise from so esteemed a songwriter as Mr. Kern. It is an acknowledgement that Berlin had a vast output of songs  contributing both music and lyrics in a great variety of styles and topics from jazzy ragtime, to tender  and romantic ballads and inspirational numbers like " God Bless America." It has been reported that Irving Berlin wrote a complete song, both music and lyrics, every day. Many of these might never have been published or even performed in public but it indicates the energy and commitment of the little boy who emigrated from Russia to eventually become the most widely known popular American songwriter. Alec Wilder, that inveterate scholar of the Great American Songbook has sated that " The solid, straightforward pop songs of Berlin are minor masterpieces of economy,clarity and memorability" referring to classic ballads such as " What'll I Do" and " Always".
His songs written for the theatre, songs such as " Cheek to Cheek" " To Hat, White Tie and Tails" and " " Change Partners" were often introduced by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers or Ethel Merman and contain more sophisticated compositional and lyric content . His major Broadway achievement was " Annie Get Your Gun" includes such well known numbers like " The Girl That I Marry" " I Got Lost in his Arms"
" I Got the Sun in the Morning" " They Say it's Wonderful" " Doin' What Comes Naturally" and finally, that great closing number " There's No Business Like Show Business".
Plus we need to remember his seasonal songs like " White Christmas"  and" Easter Parade.
After studying more than 17,000 songs written between 1900 and 1950, Alec Wilder has flatly stated that

" Let it be said that he is the best all-around,over-all songwriter that America has ever had. I can speak of only one composer as the master of the entire range of popular song-Irving Berlin."
To bring this talent to light, listen to Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence in their heartfelt 22 minute tribute to Berlin accompanied by another American institution The Boston Pops, conducted by John Williams.
After so many years, the love and affection Gorme and Lawrence have for each other and this wonderful music is there for all to see and enjoy.

LINK" http://youtu.be/Q3S2g9WfnHI