Composers, performers and entertainers whose work became part of the American musical and popular-cultural vocabulary.
Berlin came to New York as a child and became one of the most prolific songwriters in American history. His catalog included God Bless America, White Christmas, Easter Parade and scores of Broadway and popular songs that became part of the national repertoire.
“Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.”
Gershwin combined jazz, popular song and concert music in works such as Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess. His short career helped define a distinctly American sound that crossed the boundary between popular and classical music.
“Life is a lot like jazz. It’s best when you improvise.”
Ira Gershwin wrote lyrics for many of George Gershwin’s best-known songs and later collaborated with other major composers. His witty, conversational language helped set a standard for American popular-song lyrics and musical theater.
“A lyric is an emotional shorthand — and the song does what the words can’t do alone.”
Jolson became one of the dominant American entertainers of the early 20th century through vaudeville, Broadway, recordings and film. His starring role in The Jazz Singer made him central to the commercial breakthrough of synchronized sound in feature movies.
“You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
Rachmaninoff settled in the United States after the Russian Revolution and built a major concert career as a pianist. His recordings and compositions became enduring parts of American and international concert life.
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”
Tiomkin came to the United States in the 1920s and became one of classic Hollywood’s most prominent film composers. His scores for High Noon, Giant, The Alamo and many Westerns helped define the musical language of American screen epics.
“Music in films must be an emotional shorthand for what the director cannot say.”
Steiner became a pioneering Hollywood composer whose work helped establish the continuous orchestral film score. King Kong and later scores including Gone with the Wind and Now, Voyager influenced generations of screen composers.
“The music tells the story when the words cannot.”
Korngold came to Hollywood after an acclaimed European career and helped create the lush symphonic style associated with adventure films. His score for The Adventures of Robin Hood won an Academy Award and became an enduring model for later film music.
“I have always written what I felt, and I shall always do so.”
Hope came to Cleveland as a child and built a career spanning vaudeville, Broadway, radio, movies and television. His decades of performances for American military personnel overseas made him one of the country’s most familiar entertainers.
“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.”
Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 and became a leading figure at American Ballet Theatre. His work across classical ballet, modern dance and acting expanded the possibilities for male dancers in American performance culture.
“No matter what country you are in, art is a universal language.”