Cole Porter on Broadway

Cole Porter/arr. Warren Barker

Cole Porter on Broadway contains nine of Cole Porter’s most popular melodies: “Anything Goes”, “You Do Something To Me”, “Let’s Do It”, “What Is This Thing Called Love”, “You’re The Top”, “Just One Of Those Things”, “Love For Sale”, “Night And Day”, and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”.

Cole Porter (1891-1964) was born in Peru, Indiana. Subsidized by his wealthy grandfather and raised in privilege, he began his career as a composer at Yale University. He had written over 300 compositions by the time he graduated and moved on to Harvard.

Porter lived life and wrote music with style, energy, and a hearty appreciation for the subtle, the grandiose, the lively, and the silly. Witty and sophisticated, he enjoyed the “high society” life of the well-to-do. His parties were elaborate and fabulous, attended by people of wealthy and political classes, with much gay and bisexual activity, Italian nobility, cross-dressing, international musicians and recreational drugs. He married for public acceptance and lived for 35 years in a happy friendship. In 1937 he fractured both legs when thrown from a horse and never fully recovered. Despite physical suffering he went on to become a top composer for Broadway and Hollywood, creating countless memorable scores.

Warren Barker (1923-2006) arranged this music. Educated at UCLA, Mr. Barker was an American composer for film, radio, television and Las Vegas clubs. He composed the incidental music for the hit 1960s TV series Bewitched and he composed and arranged numerous pieces for concert band.

Last updated on July 6, 2013 by Palatine Concert Band