Jerome Kern American composer Date of Birth: 27.01.1885 Country: USA

Biography of Jerome Kern

Jerome David Kern was an American composer born in 1885 in New York City to German immigrant parents, Henry and Fannie Kern. His father was a trader of musical instruments and accessories, hoping to pass on the family business to his son. However, despite his father's wishes, Kern did not want to sell instruments but was eager to play music.

Kern completed his musical education at the New York College of Music and continued his studies in Europe. By that time, his compositions written for musical theaters had already gained popularity. Upon his return to the United States, Kern worked as a pianist on Broadway. By the late 1920s, he had composed music for 16 musicals and shows on Broadway, establishing himself as a prominent composer.

In 1915, Kern narrowly escaped a tragic event when he missed the departure of the RMS Lusitania, a ship that later sank during its voyage. This event resulted in the death of his collaborator Charles Frohman.

In 1925, Kern met the renowned producer and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, marking the beginning of a long-lasting friendship and collaboration. Within a few years, the talented duo created the operetta "Showboat," which is considered Kern's most significant and best work to date. It has been adapted into film multiple times, with the most recent version released in 1951 starring Kathryn Grayson and Ava Gardner.

In 1930, following the success of "Showboat," Warner Bros approached Kern, and he began working on film musicals. While his first musical did not achieve great success, his subsequent works, such as "Music in the Air" in 1932 and "Roberta" in 1933, became highly successful and were adapted into films.

Kern received an Academy Award in 1936 for the song "The Way You Look Tonight" from the film "Swing Time." He won another Oscar in 1941 for the song "The Last Time I Saw Paris," featured in the film "Lady Be Good." It is worth noting that the latter song was not specifically written for the movie but was incorporated into it.

As Kern grew older, his health, particularly his heart, became a concern. After suffering a heart attack in 1939, he limited his activities to composing music for films, leaving performances and theater behind. In the following years, his two film musicals released in 1944, "Cover Girl" and "Can't Help Singing," achieved tremendous success.

On November 5, 1945, Kern experienced a stroke while out for a walk. Unfortunately, he had no identification on him, and his friends only found him several days later. Despite all efforts, saving Kern's life was impossible. His friend and colleague Oscar Hammerstein II spent a significant amount of time by his bedside.

Jerome Kern passed away on November 11, 1945, without regaining consciousness. He was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Westchester County, New York. Many Hollywood celebrities attended his funeral.

Kern was survived by his wife, Eva, and their daughter, Betty Jane. In 1946, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released a biographical drama titled "Till the Clouds Roll By," depicting Jerome Kern's life.

Throughout his musical career, Kern composed over 700 songs and numerous operettas, with some of his works becoming classics.