The life and work of the great composer Irving Berlin, tracking his work against the history of 20th century America, its ups and downs, in war and peace, progress and sentiments. Interviews with many of the people who worked with him and knew him best. And appearances in many film and television excerpts of the leading performance artists of our time, including Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Harry Richman, Rudy Vallee, Fred Astaire, Kate Smith, Jack Benny, John Raitt, Betty Hutton, Ethel Merman, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Linda Ronstadt and many others.