TYPED LETTER SIGNED (TLS) on the Rumor that a "Colored Boy" Wrote His Songs

14 June 1948. Letter. Faint folds from mailing. Near Fine. On a sheet of his personal stationery (7" x 10") addressed to Michael de Lisio of MGM Pictures, Berlin answers an inquiry about a rumor, prevalent since the 1920s, that his songs had been written for him by an anonymous black boy. In full: "The little colored boy story that MacLane talks about is probably the Harry Ruby one. Some years ago, I walked into the Friar's Club with a three months Palm Beach tan and Harry Ruby, who was in the club, pointed to me and said 'there's the little colored fellow who writes all of Berlin's stuff.' Another Ruby crack about the colored fellow was -- Sometime (truncated) ago, a songwriter asked Ruby how old the little colored boy was and Harry replied 'oh, about Irving's age.'" SIGNED by the composer "Irving Berlin." With a short typed statement by the recipient of the letter stating that he was working at the time for MGM in charge of publicity for EASTER PARADE. Superb letter. (Inventory #: 021565)