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THE STORY OF IRVING BERLIN by David Even

THE STORY OF IRVING BERLIN

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Pub Date: April 10th, 1950
Publisher: Holt

Although this syrupy biography of the great popular composer may have some reference value, as a documented account of the works of Berlin, the brief personal sketch, and the chunks of manufactured dialogue follow the old slick pattern and are often aloof from the subject. The author follows the career of Berlin, son of Moses Baline, a refugee from Russian persecution, from his early struggles with poverty on the Lower East Side of New York, through an interim as a singing waiter and writer of lyrics to an accidental breaking in to the music writing business, the rise to the title of ""King of Ragtime"" with the publication of Alexander's Ragtime Band in 1911, and his many later successes. Appendices including lists of most famous songs, show scores, movie scores and selected recordings are added. This book is intended for adults, but has a youthful format more appropriate for young people.