Final answer:
Irving Berlin was a composer influential in shaping popular music during the 1920s and contributed significantly to the American songbook, including many hits beyond the famed "White Christmas." The correct answer is option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
Irving Berlin was a composer who helped shape popular music in the 1920s. While he is well-known for writing the song "White Christmas," Berlin's impact on the music industry extends far beyond this holiday classic. During the 1930s and 40s, a challenging time for Americans with the Great Depression and World War II, the rise of some of America's greatest musical theatre composers and lyricists like George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and the partnership between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, brought about dynamic changes in musical theatre. Irving Berlin was part of this era of transformation and contributed significantly to the American songbook, composing a variety of songs that have stood the test of time. Berlin was not just a one-hit-wonder nor was he limited to Christmas songs, nor was he a novelist.