Cole Porter
On this day in 1891, the American composer and lyricist, Cole Albert Porter, was born. He is regarded as one of the most sophisticated song-writers of all time.
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| Cole Porter (June 9 1891 - October 15, 1964) |
Porter was the grandson of a millionaire speculator, and the affluent circumstances of his life likely contributed to the poise and urbanity of his musical style. He began violin study at the age of 6 and piano at the age of 8. As a student at Yale University, he composed about 300 songs. He later when on to study at Harvard Law School (1914) and Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Science, reading Music.
In 1917, after the U.S. entered World War I, Porter went to France (he was not, as later reported, in French military service.) He became something of a playboy, travelling around Europe and, though rather openly homosexual, married a wealthy older American divorcée and socialite, Linda Lee Thomas, on December 18, 1919. They spent the next two decades in lively partying and social travelling, sometimes together, sometimes apart.
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| Cole Porter and Linda Lee Thomas |
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| Linda Lee Thomas |
Over the years, Porter wrote such songs and lyrics as
"Night and Day"
"Begin the Beguine" (Beguine being a form of dance, similar to slow rhumba):
"I've Got You Under My Skin"
"It's Delovely"
"I Love Paris"
"I Get a Kick Out of You"
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica
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