A hundred songs for a centenarian

Press, 18 May 1988, Page 23

A hundred songs for a centenarian

KAY FORRESTER

reports on plans to celebrate

Irving Berlin’s birthday in style.

It may not be an Irving Berlin original but “Happy Birthday” is bound to feature somewhere on the programme for a Christchurch concert to mark Berlin’s one hundredth birthday. Berlin’s birthday was last Wednesday but Lois Short, the show’s organiser, could not book the Theatre Royal for that evening so “Say It With Music” will play on May 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"Say It With Music” will raise money towards the Theatre Royal seating campaign. Mrs Short hopes to raise $lO,OOO. This show is perhaps the largest she has organised. A total of 100 people will perform 100 songs to mark Berlin’s birthday.

Mrs Short is a fan of the American composer. She has included all his best-known songs, from "God Bless America” to “White Christmas” in the show.

The musical director for the show is Tony Kingston. The narrator providing the link for the musical items is Paul Gregory.

Kingston will lead a violin, bass, drum and piano combination accompanying the singers.

The entertainers taking part in the show include the Evergreen Big Band,

the Eureka Jazz Band, Hubert Filer, the Santa Rosa Entertainers, Satin and Style, the Silent Singers, Nicholas Graham, the Gillivan Varieties, the Air New Zealand choir, Kevin Knowles, Ron Gray, Theatre Workshop members, Lynda Milligan, John Jefferies, Mike Atkin, Bob Campbell, John Bateman, Karen ReidMartin, Pam Coote and the Sara Brodie Dancers.

The Christchurch singers are giving their time.

Berlin was born Israel Baline in Siberia in 1888. He emigrated to the United States with his family when he was aged four. At the age of 16 he got a job as a singing waiter and began writing songs. In 1911 he had his first big hit with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” By 1914 he had written his first full score, by 1919 he had his own music publishing business and by 1921 he had built the Music Box Theatre.

His musicals include “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Call Me Madam.”