Cole Porter

Cole Porter (June 9, 1891 - October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. His best-known works include the musical comedies Kiss Me Kate (1948) (based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew) 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 lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms. Irving Berlin used to refer to "Night and Day" as "that long, long song".

Porter was born in Peru, Indiana. He started studying music at a very young age, primarily playing the piano. He attended Yale university, and afterward went to Paris to study music. His musicals and individual songs soon gained him popularity; many were written specifically with Fred Astaire in mind. A riding accident in 1937 affected his mobility, but he continued to compose.

Cole Porter is interred in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru, Indiana.