Knowra Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Porter (1891–1964) was an American composer and lyricist known for witty, harmonically inventive songs and Broadway musicals, including Kiss Me, Kate and Anything Goes.
American musical theatre : A theatrical tradition that combines songs, spoken dialogue, dance, and drama in staged productions. Porter wrote shows that helped define Broadway’s musical-comedy tradition.
Kiss Me, Kate : Cole Porter’s 1948 musical comedy about a touring production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Its backstage plot and Shakespearean framing showcase Porter’s mature musical-theatre writing.
Linda Lee Thomas : An American socialite who married Cole Porter in 1919 and remained his wife until her death in 1954. Her marriage to Porter formed a lasting personal partnership despite their unconventional arrangement.
Peru, Indiana : A city in north-central Indiana and Cole Porter’s birthplace. Porter grew up in this Midwestern town before entering elite schools and musical circles.
Ella Fitzgerald : An American jazz singer celebrated for her vocal range, improvisation, and recordings of popular standards. Her 1956 Cole Porter Song Book introduced Porter’s catalogue to a new generation of listeners.
Tin Pan Alley : The New York music-publishing district and songwriting industry that shaped popular American song. Its commercial songcraft informed Porter’s concise, memorable songwriting.
Anything Goes : Cole Porter’s 1934 musical comedy set aboard an ocean liner, featuring songs including its title number. It is among Porter’s best-known shows and a defining example of his revue-like comedy.
P. G. Wodehouse : An English humorist and lyricist who collaborated on Broadway shows in the early twentieth century. Wodehouse and Porter both contributed lyrics to early musical comedies, including See America First.
Yale University : A private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, founded in 1701. Porter wrote songs for Yale productions and became active in its social clubs.
Frank Sinatra : An American singer and actor whose recordings helped define twentieth-century popular music. His interpretations helped establish Porter’s songs as central vocal standards.
Show all 29