The Ethelbert B. Crawford Library asks you to join Kenneth Korn, noted lecturer, in an informative and delightful virtual talk about Irving Berlin.

“Irving Berlin’s music does not have the rhythmic or harmonic complexities of a Gershwin tune.  His music does not have the sly naughtiness of a Cole Porter Hit. And yet it is impossible to find a single composer who did more for ‘The American Songbook’ than Irving Berlin. In many ways he is a victim of his own success. Everyone knows God Bless America, White Christmas, and There’s no Business like Show Business, yet, many people do not know who wrote them or that they were composed by the same talented man.”

Along with a discussion of Berlin’s amazing personal biography, from penniless refugee to Hollywood and Broadway icon, Kenneth Korn’s talk will also demonstrate with both recorded and live performance, the masterful ways in which an Irving Berlin song, such as “What Will I Do?”, despite its apparent simplicity, is in fact crafted with brilliance and elegance. Mr. Berlin spent years at his home in Sullivan County, not too far away, at Lew Beach and his music was such a staple of Borscht Belt performers.