Irving Berlin was one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in American history. An immigrant from Russia who couldn't read or write music, he composed an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 20 Broadway shows and 15 Hollywood films. His 1942 song 'White Christmas,' as sung by Bing Crosby, remains the best-selling single of all time. Berlin also wrote iconic patriotic songs like 'God Bless America' and 'There's No Business Like Show Business.' George Gershwin called him 'the greatest songwriter that has ever lived.' Berlin’s ability to capture the American spirit in simple, memorable melodies made his music a central part of the 20th-century cultural fabric. He lived to be 101 years old, having seen his music become the cornerstone of the Great American Songbook.