Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter from Indiana. His works include the musical comedies Kiss Me, Kate (1948) (based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew), Fifty Million Frenchmen and Anything Goes, as well as songs like "Night and Day", "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". He was noted for his sophisticated (sometimes ribald) lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms. Irving Berlin used to refer to "Begin the Beguine" as "that long, long song."

The early years

---

Porter was born in Peru, Indiana, into a wealthy Protestant background; his maternal grandfather, James Omar "J.O." Cole, was a coal and timber speculator who dominated his daughter's family. Music was one way for the young Cole to escape from his grandfather's iron hand. His mother started Porter in musical training at an early age; he learned the violin at age 6, the piano at 8, and he wrote his first operetta (with help from his mother) at 10. Porter's mother, Kate Porter, recognized and supported her son's talents. She changed his legal birth year from 1891 to 1893 to make him look like an advanced child. J.O. Cole wanted the boy to become a lawyer, and with that career in mind sent him to Worcester Academy and then Yale University beginning in 1909.

Porter became a member of the famous Yale secret society, Scroll and Key, Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and sang as a member of the original line-up of the Whiffenpoofs. He spent a year at Harvard Law School in 1913. An unverified story tells of a law school dean who, in frustration over Porter's lack of performance in the classroom, suggested tongue-in-cheek that he "not waste his time" studying law, but instead focus on his music. Taking this suggestion to heart, Porter transferred to the School of Music. While at Yale, he wrote a number of student songs, including the football fight songs "Yale Bulldog" and "Bingo Eli Yale" (aka "Bingo, That's The Lingo!") that are still played at Yale to this day.

More on [ Cole Porter ]

AP - Celebrity News

David Spade is the father to a baby girl, born to Playboy playmate Jillian Grace
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:46:00 -0700
%meta(topic:01016000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:tv;%)
Michael Moore to release new film on 2004 election, 'Slacker Uprising,' online for free
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:33:00 -0700
NEW YORK (AP) _ Inspired by Neil Young and Radiohead, Michael Moore will release his new film online and for free.
Ritchie rocks again with crime romp 'RocknRolla,' denies marital trouble with Madonna
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:11:00 -0700
TORONTO (AP) _ Crime just never stops paying for Guy Ritchie.

Subscribe to People RSS feed