Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman (1908–1984) was an American actress and singer celebrated for her powerful voice and starring roles in Broadway musicals.
Anything Goes: A 1934 Cole Porter musical comedy set aboard an ocean liner. Merman created the role of Reno Sweeney, introducing songs including “I Get a Kick Out of You.”
Belting (music): A forceful, speech-like singing technique used prominently in musical theater and popular music. Merman's ringing, high-volume delivery became a defining model of Broadway belting.
Vaudeville: A form of popular variety entertainment built from short acts such as songs, comedy, and dance. Merman developed her early stage presence in variety performance before becoming a Broadway star.
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical: An annual American theater award recognizing a leading performance by an actress in a musical. Merman won the award for Call Me Madam, one measure of her standing as a Broadway star.
Irving Berlin: An American songwriter who composed popular standards and Broadway musicals including Annie Get Your Gun. Berlin wrote major vehicles for Merman, including Annie Get Your Gun and Call Me Madam.
Annie Get Your Gun: A 1946 musical by Irving Berlin about sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Merman originated Annie Oakley on Broadway and made “There's No Business Like Show Business” a signature song.
Musical theater: A form of theatrical performance combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. Her star roles joined vocal display and comic characterization within the Broadway musical.
Tin Pan Alley: The New York music-publishing district and industry that produced popular songs from the late nineteenth century onward. Her early success singing popular songs connected her to the commercial music world that fed Broadway.
Broadway musical theatre performers: Performers who act, sing, or dance in musicals produced for the Broadway stage. Her commanding vocal style became a reference point for generations of musical-theater performers.
Cole Porter: An American composer and lyricist known for sophisticated songs and Broadway musicals. Porter wrote Anything Goes, where Merman's Reno Sweeney became a defining role.