Irving Berlin

IRVING BERLIN& TIN PAN ALLEY

By far no other songwriter had more influence on the development and performance of popular Music as Irving Berlin did in America. Born on May 11, 1888 and Irving Berlin real name was Israel Baline, he was youngest of eight children. Irving Berlin’s family moved to New York in 1888 from Temun, Russia. Irving Berlin grew up in hard times as many children in immigrant families did back then. During Irving young childhood he lived a wild and unsupervised life belonging to a gang and playing street games. In 1896, Irving’s father died and he ran away from home. Irving made a living for himself first as a street singer. Irving began singing around some popular cafes and restaurants so that he could eat while living on the streets. He was hired to sing in some of the cafes. In this time of singing in the restaurants he was noticed by Harry Von Tilzer and hired to plug Von Tilzer and songs at Tony Pastor’s music hall. In 1906 when Irving was hired as a singing waiter at the Pelham’s is when his fortunes and American music would change forever.

Somewhere around 1906 to 1908 is where Irving Berlin decided to change his name. This is also the time that he began to make a name for himself as a creative lyricist. After the publication of “Marie” Berlin left the Pelham’s restaurant and moved over to Jimmy Kelly’s at Union Square. Irving Berlin ended trying to sell his lyrics and end up selling them to Ted Snyder for twenty-five dollar assuming that he had a complete song with a melody. Which he had put the complete song together using an arranger, the arranger pushed out the song and Berlin had his first complete song “Dorando”. The same year he wrote another song “The Best of Friends Must Part”. “He had proven that he could create a melody it was as a lyricist that he established himself in the music industry.” As a result of Irving Berlin success, his talents were drawn into other area, especially Broadway. Irving...