Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin's father was a cantor, a synagogue official who led his congregation in the singing of liturgical music. He brought his family to America when Irving Berlin was five years old. When the boy was thirteen, his father died and he ran away from home. Without formal training, Berlin taught himself to play piano. He became famous for his song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," published in 1911. His most famous musical was "Annie Get Your Gun."

(AP Photo)