COLE PORTER —
“Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Act the fool, play the calf,
And you’ll always have the last laugh”
Cole Porter
Playwright & Composer
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 in Peru, 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 he was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway musical stage. Unlike many successful Broadway composers, Porter wrote the lyrics as well as the music for his songs.
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF
Since the best way to demonstrate Cole’s genius is to play his music, please enjoy some videos of a few of his most memorable songs and performances
Cole Porter Sings
“You’re the Top”
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance to
Cole Porter’s
“Night and Day”
in the Film “Gay Divorcee” (1934)
Cole Porter’s
“Kiss Me, Kate”
Performed at the 2019 Tony Awards
Learn more
For more information about Cole Porter, visit the Cole Porter Room at the Indiana Historical Society