Biography
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Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 β November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A Fine Romance", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Song Is You", "All the Things You Are", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Long Ago (and Far Away)" and "Who?". He collaborated with many of the leading librettists and lyricists of his era, including George Grossmith Jr., Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and E. Y. Harburg.
A native New Yorker, Kern created dozens of Broadway musicals and Hollywood films in a career that lasted for more than four decades. His musical innovations, such as 4/4 dance rhythms and the employment of syncopation and jazz progressions, built on, rather than rejected, earlier musical theatre tradition. He and his collaborators also employed his melodies to further the action or develop characterization to a greater extent than in the other musicals of his day, creating the model for later musicals. Although dozens of Kern's musicals and musical films were hits, only Show Boat is now regularly revived. Songs from his other shows, however, are still frequently performed and adapted. Many of Kern's songs have been adapted by jazz musicians to become standard tunes.
Filmography
all 23
Movies 23
Writer 5
self 1
Roberta (1969)
Show Boat (1951)
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
Can't Help Singing (1944)
Cover Girl (1944)
You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
Joy of Living (1938)
Swing Time (1936)
Show Boat (1936)
The Flame Within (1935)
Roberta (1935)
Music in the Air (1934)
Sunny (1930)
Gloria's Romance (1916)
Gallery
Information
Known ForWriting
GenderMale
Birthday1885-01-27
Deathday1945-11-11 (60 years old)
ChildrenBetty Kern
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
AwardsGrammy Trustees Award, Academy Award for Best Original Song
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