was born in Peru, Indiana, on this date in 1891. The following is from the web site for the PBS series American Masters:
“Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.”
“Night and Day,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” “Begin the Beguine,” “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” — some of the cleverest, funniest, and most romantic songs ever written came from the pen of Cole Porter. He was unmatched as a tunesmith, and his Broadway musicals — from “Kiss Me Kate” and “Anything Goes” to “Silk Stockings” and “Can Can” — set the standards of style and wit to which today’s composers and lyricists aspire.
Night and Day was one of the NPR 100, their list of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century. The first note is repeated 35 times.
(Originally posted by NewMexiKen June 9, 2004; edited somewhat.)