Publicity photo of Berlin at his first job with a music publisher, aged 18. Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 - September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 20 original Broadway shows and 15 original Hollywood films, with his songs nominated eight times for Academy Awards. No photographer credited, 1906 (cropped and cleaned).