+Cole Porter

COLE PORTERComposer/Singer

+Birth

Porter was born on June 9, 1891, in Peru, Indiana

His mother change his birth year to 1893 to make him seem more intelligent at a young age.

+Childhood

He grew up wealthy. (Grandson of J.O. Cole, the richest man in Indiana)

He learned the violin at age 6.

He learned the piano at age 8.

He wrote his first operetta at age 10.

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+Impacts on His Life

Porter’s mom died in 1952.

His wife Linda died in 1954.

His leg was amputated in 1958.

In his late years he turned to alcohol and sank into a deep depression.

He died on October 15, 1964, in Santa Monica, CA.

+His Introduction to Theater

He first had an interest in theater when he joined the glee club as a freshman at Yale university, where he later became Glee club president as a senior.

His musical talent as a child also pushed him in the theatrical direction.

In 20’s wrote controversial songs about relationships and sexual innuendoes. http://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/160319897/cole-porter-scores-an-interracial-couples-highs-and-lows

+"Cole Porter was the sexiest songwriter.

And his songs are infused with this sexual passion and longing that no other great songwriter captured, which is one reason he's very close to my heart. It's like having a new love affair all over again to sing a Cole Porter song.”

Singer Susannah McCorkle

+“Night and Day” Night and day, you are the one 

Only you 'neath the moon or under the sun Whether near to me or far It's no matter, darling, where you are I think of you day and night 

Night and day, why is it so That this longin' for you follows wherever I go ? In the roarin' traffic's boom In the silence of my lonely room I think of you day and night 

Night and day, under the hide of me There's an oh, such a hungry yearnin' burnin' inside of me And its torment won't be through Till you let me spend my life makin' love to you Day and night, night and day 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEM_63_P0CY

+Night and Day [the movie]

In 1945, he lent his permission to the movie Night and Day, allegedly about the life of Cole Porter which had very little relationship to the his actual. The movie purposely left out important parts of life, like his overly pampered and controlled youth, his gay life, his sexless marriage of convenience, his 'business' marriage, and furthered the fantastic tall tales that Cole spread about himself. For instance, although he had never served in the French Army, the movie faithfully "showed" his exploits and his fake war injuries. Cole reportedly enjoyed the movie's wildly fictional account, and he had the privilege of seeing movie superstar Cary Grant play a well-hyped heroic (and straight) version of himself

+Claims to Fame/ Productions

Musicals:

Anything Goes

Silk Stockings

Can-Can

Paris (His first major hit)

+Claims to Fame (Part II) Movies:

Born to Dance

Rosalie

High Society

Les Girls

+Claims to FameSongs Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love (1928)

Love For Sale (1930)

Night and Day (1932)

You’re The Top (1934)

Don’t Fence Me In (1934)

I Concentrate On You (1935)

Begin The Beguine (1935)

It’s De-Lovely (1936)

I’ve got you under my skin (1936)

I get a kick out of you (1940)

I love Paris (1940)

+Impact on the World of Theatre

Porter introduced new styles of composing and lyrics to the theatre world through his life experiences.

During the Great Depression he kept Broadway booming.

+Who influenced him?

His mother is who most people say was his biggest influence.

She pushed him into music at such a young age and helped him write his first operetta.

+Education / Training

Yale, Harvard, Harvard Law, Worcester Academy

Became a part of the Yale Whiffenpoofs, which gave him more musical training

Schola Cantorum de Paris – Classically trained in music.

+Awards

Tony award for best musical: Kiss Me Kate

Tony award for best composer and lyricist for Kiss Me Kate

+Interesting Facts

He was dorm mates with the future U.S. secretary of state, Dean Acheson

Hosted elaborate parties in Paris and Venice

He was a cheerleader at Yale

+Work Cited

IMDB: Cole Porter

Pictures: njcattlecall.wordpress.com; www.concordplayers.org

NPR