Jerome David Kern, born in 1885, began his stage career by grafting American songs into imported European operettas. His breakthrough came with the song "They Didn't Believe Me", written with Edward Laska for the show "The Girl from Utah", which established him as a major American composer in 1914.
Married to an Englishwoman, Kern became an Anglophile and teamed up with British writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse to write the so-called "Princess Theatre musicals" - shows like "Very Good, Eddie" and "Leave It To Jane", which were unusual not only for their silly storylines but also for featuring everyday people rather than exotic characters, and having few sets and small casts.
Later, Kern wrote shows like "Sally" and "Sunny", loaded with song hits, star casts, and spectacular sets, but with silly plots. He then decided to adapt Edna Ferber's novel "Show Boat" to the musical stage, partnering with Oscar Hammerstein II to create a groundbreaking show.
"Show Boat"'s storyline featured interracial marriage, wife desertion, alcoholism, and gambling, as well as realistic characters, and included the iconic song "Ol' Man River". Most of the songs were integrated so well into the story that they couldn't be taken out of the show without damaging the plot.
Despite initial doubts, "Show Boat" became a huge hit and remains one of the greatest classics in musical theater, often revived. Kern, however, did not experiment further and wrote exclusively for movie musicals after a heart attack in 1939.
Two of his movie musicals, "Swing Time" (1936) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and "Cover Girl" (1944) with Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly, are famous for their songs and dances. Kern died of a stroke at the age of 60 in 1945.
