Say It With Music: The Songs of Irving Berlin

Jerome Kern said of his friend Irving Berlin (1888-1989), “He has no place in American music; he is American music.” A Russian-born cantor’s son who became America’s foremost songwriter, Berlin wrote hundreds of songs that have become part of American culture, including “God Bless America” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

Music historian Robert Kimball, a longtime friend of Berlin and co-editor of The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin (with Linda Emmet, one of Berlin’s daughters), returns to Lyrics & Lyricists at the 92nd Street Y for Say It With Music: The Songs of Irving Berlin.

Kimball explores how Berlin’s work over the course of 80 years reflected the evolving cultural landscape of America, from the jazzy ragtime of the early 20th century to 1940’s movie classics like “Easter Parade.” CBS newsman Charles Osgood, who teamed up with Kimball for last season’s tribute to Johnny Mercer, returns once again as host.

The cast features two specialists in early-20th-century American music, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks and Max Morath, along with Broadway vocalists Ivy Austin, Brian D’Arcy James and Jenny Powers.