Irving Berlin: The Man Who Wrote “God Bless America” …
Believe it or not, the man who wrote the song God Bless America was born in Russia! That’s right, Irving Berlin, one of America’s greatest songwriters, didn’t move to America until he was five years old.
Berlin wrote some of America’s favorite songs, including the best-selling record of all time: White Christmas. And, after God Bless America became a much-loved patriotic hit, he realized that he would earn millions of dollars as its songwriter. But Berlin didn’t want to make money on a song that he’s written as a way of saying “thank you” to his adopted homeland. So, he gave all his royalties to the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of New York City.
Irving Berlin was a very creative person. And you’ve been blessed with creativity, too. So keep searching for your own particular talent, and keep practicing. When you do, you’re sure to make your world a better place . . . just like Irving Berlin!
Quotes About Creativity
“Create and be true to yourself.”
Duke Ellington
“The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.”
Linus Pauling
“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.”
Edwin Land
“Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.”
Madeleine L’Engle
“Creative people have to be fed from the divine source.”
Johnny Cash
About New York City
It’s a Fact: Irving Berlin lived in New York City, which is located in the state of New York.
It’s a Fact: New York City is not the capital of New York State. The capital of New York State is Albany.
It’s a Fact: .The city of New York is divided into 5 separate areas called “boroughs.” The five boroughs of New York are: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
It’s a Fact: Many of Irving Berlin’s songs were performed on Broadway, which is the name of the theater district in New York. Broadway is also the name of a famous street that runs through the theater district.
It’s a Fact: At the center of Broadway is Times Square, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. It’s estimated that 50 million people visit Times Square every year.
Fun Fact: A kilometer isn’t as long as a mile. It takes more than one and a half kilometers to make a mile.
Fun Fact: The capital of Mexico is Mexico City.
Fun Fact: The biggest river in America is the Mississippi.
Fun Fact: Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the same as 100 degrees Celsius.
Fun Fact: Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States. Teddy bears are named for him.
Just for fun,
Did Irving Berlin move to America when he was 5, 10, 15, or 20?
Which famous Christmas song did Irving Berlin write? Was it Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, or The First Noel?
Which is longer: a kilometer or a mile?
What's the capital of Mexico? Is it Acapulco, Tijuana, Mexico City, or Guadalajara?
Here's a riddle for you:
Why couldn't the music teacher open her door?
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