Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidore Baline in Tyumen, Russia, on May 11, 1888.
* He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1893 and settled in New York City.
* He began writing songs as a teenager and had his first hit, "Marie from Sunny Italy," in 1907.
* He wrote over 1,500 songs, including "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "White Christmas," and "God Bless America."
* He won three Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award.
* He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1975.
* He died on September 22, 1989, at the age of 101.
* He is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time.