Cole Porter wrote both words and music for a vast repertoire of songs. He enjoyed a privileged upbringing, and his musical talent was encouraged. He left Harvard Law School to pursue music in New York but moved to Paris in 1917. There he led a glamorous social life throughout the ‘20s. He married socialite Linda Thomas in 1919. Cole was gay but the couple filled each other’s needs and remained devoted to each other until Linda’s death in 1954.

It was Cole’s “Let’s Do It” from Paris (1928) that established his reputation. After an unsuccessful Hollywood venture writing for film he returned to New York in 1929 for Fifty Million Frenchmen, the first in a string of hit shows. Cole’s lyrics are sophisticated and often risqu as in 1930’s “Love for Sale.” His hits include “What Is This Thing Called Love” 1930), “Night and Day” (1932), “I Get a Kick Out of You” (1934), “Begin the Beguine” and “Just One of Those Things” (1935). “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Easy to Love” are from a 1936 film.

A riding accident in 1937 crushed his legs and left him in severe pain, but he continued to write: “Get Out of Town” (1938), “Everything I Love” (1941), and “I Love You” (1944). “Don’t Fence Me In” (popularized by cowboy actor/singer Roy Rogers) appeared in the 1944 film Hollywood Canteen.

Cole’s biggest Broadway successes were still to come. Kiss Me Kate (1948) ran for over 1,000 performances; then came Can Can (1953) and Silk Stockings (1955). His right leg was amputated in 1958 and he was unable to attend 1960’s “Salute to Cole Porter” at the Metropolitan Opera House. Night and Day (1948) was an unrealistic biography of Porter’s life, but 2004’s De-Lovely covers elements omitted from the earlier film.

-- Sandra Burlingame

Courtesy of JazzStandards.com