Biography
Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in Hollywood films. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, Porter defied his grandfather's wishes for him to practice law and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn to musical theatre. After a slow start, he began to achieve success in the 1920s, and by the 1930s, was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway stage. Unlike many successful Broadway composers, Porter wrote both music and lyrics. After a serious horseback riding accident in 1937, Porter was left disabled and in constant pain, but he continued to work. His shows of the early 1940s did not contain the lasting hits of his best work of the 1920s and 1930s, but in 1948 he made a triumphant comeback with his most successful musical, Kiss Me, Kate. It won the first Tony Award for Best Musical. Porter's other musicals include Fifty Million Frenchmen, DuBarry Was a Lady, Anything Goes, Can-Can and Silk Stockings. Hit songs include "Night and Day", "Begin the Beguine", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "Well, Did You Evah!", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love", "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", and "You're the Top". He also composed scores for films from the 1930s through the 1950s, including Born to Dance (1936), which features "You'd Be So Easy to Love"; Rosalie (1937), which features "In the Still of the Night"; High Society (1956), which features "True Love"; and Les Girls (1957), which features "Ça, C'est L'amour".
Sound 42
2020s
- 2024
Kiss Me, Kate
Songs, Original Music Composer
- 2021
Anything Goes
Songs, Original Music Composer
Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter
Songs, Music
2010s
- 2014
Kiss Me Kate: BBC Proms
Sound
2000s
- 2004
- 2003
Kiss Me, Kate
Original Music Composer
1990s
- 1999
My Heart Belongs to Daddy
Music
- 1996
Can-Can / Nightless Castle in Manhattan
Original Music Composer
- 1993
1980s
- 1982
1970s
- 1975
At Long Last Love
Songs
1960s
- 1964
Kiss Me, Kate
Original Music Composer
- 1960
1950s
- 1958
Kiss Me, Kate
Songs, Music
Aladdin
Songs, Music Director
- 1957
- 1956
Anything Goes
Songs, Original Music Composer
Paris in the Springtime
Songs
- 1954
Anything Goes
Songs
- 1953
1940s
- 1948
- 1946
- 1944
Hollywood Canteen
Songs
Something for the Boys
Songs, Original Music Composer
- 1943
Let's Face It
Songs
All Star Melody Masters
Songs
Something to Shout About
Songs
- 1942
- 1941
- 1940
Broadway Melody of 1940
Songs
1930s
- 1937
Rosalie
Original Music Composer, Songs
- 1936
Anything Goes
Songs, Original Music Composer
- 1934
The Gay Divorcee
Music
- 1931
50 Million Frenchmen
Music
1920s
- 1929
The Battle of Paris
Songs
Wrote 34
2020s
- 2021
Anything Goes
Musical, Lyricist
Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter
Lyricist
2000s
- 2004
- 2003
Kiss Me, Kate
Lyricist
1970s
- 1975
At Long Last Love
Lyricist
1960s
- 1960
1950s
- 1958
Kiss Me, Kate
Lyricist
Aladdin
Lyricist
- 1957
- 1956
Anything Goes
Lyricist
Paris in the Springtime
Lyricist
- 1954
Anything Goes
Lyricist
- 1953
1940s
- 1948
- 1946
- 1944
Hollywood Canteen
Lyricist
Something for the Boys
Lyricist
- 1943
Let's Face It
Lyricist
All Star Melody Masters
Lyricist
Something to Shout About
Lyricist
- 1942
- 1941
- 1940
Broadway Melody of 1940
Lyricist
1930s
- 1937
Rosalie
Lyricist
- 1936
Anything Goes
Lyricist
- 1934
The Gay Divorcee
Lyricist
- 1931
50 Million Frenchmen
Musical
1920s
- 1929
The Battle of Paris
Lyricist
Paris
Theatre Play
Acted in 1
Appearances6
2010s
- 2018
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
- 2011
Public Speaking
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2004
- 2003
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1990
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self (archive footage)
1940s
- 1948
Thanked in the credits1
1970s
- 1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
Thanks