Cole Porter

Cole Porter (1891–1964) was an American composer and lyricist widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century. Born in Peru, Indiana, he studied at Yale and Harvard before establishing himself on Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s with witty, sophisticated songs that blended clever wordplay with elegant melody. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Porter wrote both music and lyrics himself, giving his songs a distinctive unity of tone.

His catalog includes standards such as «Anything Goes», «I Get a Kick Out of You», «You’re the Top», «Begin the Beguine», «Night and Day» and «Love For Sale», many drawn from hit shows like Anything Goes. After a string of less successful productions in the early 1940s, he returned to the top of Broadway in 1948 with Kiss Me, Kate, which won the first Tony Award for Best Musical.

Beyond the stage, Porter wrote extensively for Hollywood, scoring films including Born to Dance, Rosalie, High Society and Les Girls. His sophisticated, urbane style — full of internal rhyme, risqué double entendres and cosmopolitan references — has made his songs enduring favorites for jazz vocalists and cabaret performers alike.