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Cole Porter was born in Peru, Indiana on 9 June, 1891 and attended Yale University where he wrote two of the college’s most famous football songs. During World War I he went to France to do relief work and there he met and married the glamorous American divorcee Linda Lee Thomas. Throughout much of the next two decades the Porters lived primarily in Europe, principally in Paris and Venice. Porter was the only American theatre composer who was part of the “lost generation” of literary exiles abroad.
The turning-point in his career came in 1928 with the show “Paris” and its hit song “Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.” By the end of the 1920’s he had come into his own and was regarded as one of the outstanding Broadway songwriters. When the world was in the depths of the Depression in the 1930’s – Porter’s most productive decade – his was a message of civilized cheer. When hopes were lowest he told people they were “the top.” Even after a terrible riding accident that crushed both his legs when a horse fell on him in October 1937, Porter continued to write his amusing, exhilarating, and often poignant songs.
Many great shows and songs followed – topped perhaps in public esteem by “Anything Goes” in 1934, “Kiss Me Kate” in 1948 and “Can Can” in 1953. Hollywood successes include “Born to Dance” in 1936, “Rosalie” in 1937 and “High Society” in 1956. All in all it was an astonishing output of witty, glamorous, intoxicating creations. He died October 15, 1964. What a fabulous legacy he left the world. Said Irving Berlin to Cole Porter, “Anything I can do, you can do better."
(source: Robert Kimball) |
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“That rare performer who is as snappily entertaining with the patter songs as he is emotionally engaging with the love songs. It was a reminder that Porter’s songs can be as passionate as they are urbane and sophisticated.
--THE STAR-LEDGER
“Engaging . . . revealing Mr. Harnar’s skill as a comic singer as well as a balladeer.”
--THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Harnar is nothing less than the singer Cole Porter deserves.”
--SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE |
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