Spotlight on Cole Porter

Cole Porter wrote some of the best-known songs in musical theatre, including "Night and Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "I Get a Kick Out of You." He also wrote the lyrics for such blockbuster shows as "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Anything Goes," which previews tomorrow night at the Vam York Theater.

Born in Indiana in 1891, Porter learned to play the violin at age six, the piano at age 8, and composed his first operetta at age 10. He attended Yale, switching from law school to music studies, and wrote his first Broadway song in 1915. He moved to Paris in 1917 and established an opulent lifestyle after World War I.

His first Broadway success was the musical "Paris" in 1928. It was followed by "Wake Up and Dream" and "Fifty Million Frenchmen," with his songs enjoying some popularity; Fred Astaire's "The Gay Divorcee" featured the hit song "Night and Day." In 1934, a musical vehicle written for Ethel Merman turned into "Anything Goes," an immediate success. Porter called it one of his two perfect shows (the other was "Kiss Me, Kate.")

Porter went on to write such standards as "Begin the Beguine," "It's De-Lovely," and "Don't Fence Me In." A riding accident in 1937 that left him crippled did not keep him from writing, and later successful shows included "DuBarry was a Lady," "Panama Hattie," "Let's Face It!", "Something For the Boys," and "Mexican Hayride." In 1948, "Kiss Me, Kate" won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and featured the songs "Another Op'nin' Another Show", "Too Darn Hot", "Always True to You (in My Fashion)", and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare."

Since his death in 1964, he has been remembered as one of the primary composers of the American songbook.