Irving Berlin

There is a special place in heaven for the man who wrote "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and countless other tunes that have since become part of the very fabric of American life. Ironically, Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline) was Jewish and foreign-born, but in a sense represents the time-honoured art of American boot-strappery, going from a poor immigrant to one of the best-known songwriters of all time, catapulting to stardom with 1911's "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and never letting up. He wrote patriotic songs for two wars, as well as memorable songs for Broadway and movie musicals. Berlin lived life to the fullest until he was 101.

• classical