Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidore Baline in Mogilev province (today in Belarus); his father was a cantor. The family immigrated to New York City in 1893, and in 1901, his father died, leaving Irving (as he would later call himself) to busk on the Lower East Side. He copublished his first song in 1907, and in 1911 came out with his national sensation, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” In 1917, Berlin wrote “God Bless America” for the musical review Yip Yaphank!, but he did not release it until 1938, assigning all of its royalties (and those of his other patriotic songs) to charities. Berlin was a leading advocate for the intellectual property rights of authors, songwriters, and composers. He remains one of the most accomplished of songwriters for Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and Hollywood. His most famous song, recorded hundreds of times, is one of the most beloved Christmas songs in the American songbook, “White Christmas.”