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Irving Berlin was a Belarusian-born American composer who wrote around 1, songs during his long life. His prolific output of songs, which includes such classics as Alexander&#;s Ragtime Band and White Christmas, has led him to be considered among the finest of all American songwriters.

Early Years

Berlin, whose birth names were Israel Isadore, was born in a village in Belarus, then part of the Russian Empire, on May 11, The precise location of his birth is not definitely known, but most authorities believe that he was born close to Mogilyov. Tsar Nicholas II had instituted a brutal anti-Jewish pogrom, and for their own safety, Berlin&#;s family was forced to leave the country.

They crossed the Atlantic and started a new life in New York City, where Berlin earned money for his family by giving street performances of popular songs of the day. He went on to