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Hugely successful in popular music, as well as in the classical field, George Gershwin's best-known works include 'Rhapsody in Blue' (1924) and 'An American in Paris' (1928).
By the 1930s, Cole Porter had become one of the major songwriters for the Broadway stage. His 1932 composition 'Night and Day,' written for Fred Astaire, remains one of his most notable works. Porter also wrote the music and lyrics for the musical 'Kiss Me, Kate,' a huge 1948 Broadway hit.
Irving Berlin is considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history, with his music forming a considerable part of the Great American Songbook.
Jerome Kern created music for numerous Broadway musicals and Hollywood films during a career that lasted more than four decades. 'Ol' Man River' from the 1927 musical 'Show Boat' is among Kern's most memorable musical compositions, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Harold Arlen (pictured) is the man who composed the songs for the 1939 movie classic 'The Wizard of Oz,' working with lyricist Yip Harburg to produce evergreens such as 'Over the Rainbow.'
Lyricist and songwriter Johnny Mercer is credited with writing one of the American film industry's defining anthems, 'Hooray for Hollywood,' which he penned in 1937, with music by Richard A. Whiting.
Richard Rogers is synonymous with some of the most famous Broadway musicals ever produced. His influence is such that he was the first person to win all four top American entertainment awards in theater, film, recording, and television—a Tony, an Oscar, a Grammy, and an Emmy.
During the 1940s and 1950s, Rogers teamed up with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II to create 'Oklahoma!' (1943), 'South Pacific' (1949), 'The King and I' (1951), and 'The Sound of Music' (1959).
Sammy Cahn enjoyed a prolific career as a lyricist, songwriter, and musician, and worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Doris Day. One of his best-known compositions is 'Let it Snow!' Co-written with Jule Styne in 1945, it's been recorded by Sinatra, Woody Herman, Carly Simon, and Rod Stewart, among others.
Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner is another name associated with some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theater both for the stage and on film.
Lerner, together with composer Frederick Loewe (pictured on the right), created stage musical classics such as 'Brigadoon' (1947) and 'My Fair Lady' (1956), a notable critical and commercial success. Lerner and Loewe were also responsible for 'Camelot' (1960) and the musical film 'Gigi (1958).
With his brother George, Ira Gershwin wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows. Together they composed some of the 20th century's most memorable songs, including 'Someone to Watch Over Me' (1926) and 'I Got Rhythm' (1930).
While Hoagy Carmichael certainly played a significant role in compiling the Great American Songbook, he's more recognized for becoming one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s.
Richard Rogers enjoyed a hugely successful partnership with the lyricist Lorenz Hart throughout the 1920s and 1930s, between them producing a string of stage musicals, including 'A Connecticut Yankee' (1927) and 'Pal Joey' (1940), both later made into films.
Gershwin collaborated with author DuBose Heyward and his playwright wife Dorothy to produce the 1935 opera 'Porgy and Bess.' Gershwin's older brother Ira wrote the lyrics. The opera spawned the hit song 'Summertime.'
Berlin is responsible for penning some of the most memorable songs in popular music, among them 'Puttin' On the Ritz' (1929) and 'There's No Business Like Show Business' (1946). Berlin's 1942 composition 'White Christmas' was recorded by Bing Crosby (pictured with Berlin) and remains the world's best-selling single with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide, according to Guinness World Records.
Kern made his first trip to Hollywood in 1929, settling there permanently in 1937 after scoring a dozen movies. He's pictured with Jean Harlow, the original "blonde bombshell."
Arlen's collaboration with Judy Garland included writing another signature hit for the singer, 'The Man That Got Away,' for the 1954 version of the film 'A Star is Born,' with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Garland and Arlen are seen in 1939 sitting at the piano with actors and music executives singing songs from 'The Wizard of Oz.'
Mercer also wrote the lyrics to 'Moon River,' a song by Henry Mancini memorably performed by a guitar-playing Audrey Hepburn in the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961).
In 1965, the film adaptation of 'The Sound of Music' became the highest-grossing film of that year and later received five Academy Awards. Pictured with Rogers is Julie Andrews, who portrays Maria von Trapp.
'Brigadoon' was later made into a musical film starring Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly. 'My Fair Lady' also made it to the big screen, in 1964, as did 'Camelot' in 1967.
Tin Pan Alley was the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Hoagy Carmichael is especially remembered for composing 'Stardust' (1927) and 'Georgia on My Mind' (1930), later made even more popular by Ray Charles. Carmichael was also an actor and appeared in several movies, including 1944's 'To Have and Have Not,' which stars Lauren Bacall (pictured at the piano with Carmichael).
Sources: (The Great American Songbook Foundation) (Guinness World Records) (Billboard)
See also: Famous actors who are also musicians
Fred Astaire introduced Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' on stage, and it became a no. 1 hit. It has since been recorded by dozens of musicians.
The most bizarre rendition of Irving Berlin's 'Puttin' On the Ritz' is that sung by the monster (Peter Boyle) in Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' (1974).
The most celebrated song from the musical 'Show Boat,' 'Ol' Man River' is famously sung by bass baritone concert artist Paul Robeson, on stage and in the 1936 film production (pictured).
'Hooray for Hollywood' is featured in the movie 'Hotel Hollywood' (1937), starring Richard Powell and Rosemary Lane (pictured, with director Busby Berkeley).
'Pal Joey' is loosely adapted from the Rogers and Hart musical play of the same name and stars Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak.
However, the first person to record 'Let it Snow!' was singer, trumpeter, and big band leader Vaughn Monroe in 1945, reaching no. 1 on the Billboard Best Sellers music chart.
The Great American Songbook is an enduring canon of the most important and influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century made famous by the likes of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, and Cole Porter. Much of this music was created for Broadway musical theater and Hollywood cinema, and helped elevate the singing stars of the day.
Click through for an appreciation of those who helped compose the Great American Songbook.
What is the Great American Songbook?
The composers and lyricists and the music they made
MUSIC Show business
The Great American Songbook is an enduring canon of the most important and influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century made famous by the likes of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, and Cole Porter. Much of this music was created for Broadway musical theater and Hollywood cinema, and helped elevate the singing stars of the day.
Click through for an appreciation of those who helped compose the Great American Songbook.