Happy Birthday to the Legendary Cole Porter! (VIDEO)

Cole Porter was born on this day in 1891.

Porter was one of the most successful and prolific songwriters in American musical history, perhaps only surpassed by Irving Berlin.  Porter's Broadway hits included Kiss Me Kate, Anything Goes and Can-Can.

His list of popular songs is beyond compare.  What popular vocalist, both male or female, over the last 60-years has not wanted to record a Porter tune?  And the choices were endless:

*  True Love (Patsy Cline took it to the top of the Country charts!)

*  I Get a Kick Out of You (a Sinatra standard)

*  I've Got You Under My Skin (recorded more than 50 times)

*  Night and Day (Fred Astaire's favorite)

*  You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (a World War II favorite)

*   In The Still of the Night (even became a Rock and Roll  hit)

*  and many more.

Porter suffered severe injuries when he was involved in a horse accident in 1937.  He was lift crippled and in pain for the rest of his life.   The songwriter died in 1964 at the age of 73.  The Cole Porter Estate still earns more than $3,000,000 annually ion song royalties.

The Academy Awards Show aired shortly after he passed away.  For a man who was so important to the movie musical, a special tribute was planned.  Take a look.  Gene Kelly is the host.