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Ancestry
of Irving Berlin
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| Irving Berlin
emigrated from Belorussia as a child and grew up in a New York City
tenement. When he was 14, Irving began singing on street corners
and in restaurants to help support the family. Irving was born with
the name Israel Baline but adopted the name Irving Berlin after
his first song was mistakenly published under "I. Berlin."
Although he never really learn how to read harmony and played only
in the key of F sharp, Berlin is often regarded as the best all-around
popular songwriter of the century. Among his accomplishments are
the patriotic song God Bless America and tunes ranging from
ragtime hits to Broadway scores. |
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