He was born Jacob Gershowitz, 26 September 1898, in Brooklyn, New York, of Russian-Jewish immigrants. As a boy he could play popular and classical works on his brother Ira's piano by ear. In 1913 he quit school to study music and began composing for Tin Pan Alley; by 1919 he had his first hit "Swanee" and his first Broadway show "La, La, Lucille." In less than three weeks in 1924 he composed "Rhapsody in Blue," originally for Paul Whiteman's relatively small swing band and later orchestrated by Ferde Grofé. "Concerto in F" followed the next year, and his musical success "Oh, Kay!" . He moved to Hollywood were his songs were performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In 1937 he fell in love with Paulette Goddard, then married to Charlie Chaplin. He was heartbroken that she would not leave her husband for him. When he fell ill, that June, it was written off as stress. A month later he died of a brain tumor, five hours after a failed surgical attempt to remove it. Funerals were hold in both Hollywood and New York.
Younger brother of lyricist Ira Gershwin.
Pictured on an 8 US commemorative postage stamp in the American Arts series, issued 28 February 1973.
His "Porgy and Bess" was the first American opera ever performed at La Scala Opera House, in Milan, Italy.
His "Rhapsody in Blue" was hugely successful at its premiere, coming at the end of a reportedly extremely dull concert.
He was the first composer to successfully use jazz elements in works written for the concert hall.
His "Porgy and Bess" was the first nearly all-black opera to be performed in the Soviet Union.
His "Porgy and Bess", is still, as of 2003, the most beloved American opera ever written, and the most famous, despite what dissenting critics have said about it over the years.
The first two truly complete recordings of Gershwins opera "Porgy and Bess" won back-to-back Grammy Awards for Best Opera Recording--in 1976 (for Decca/Londons studio recording conducted by Lorin Maazel) and in 1977 (for RCA Victors recording of the critically acclaimed and highly successful Houston Opera stage production, in which the opera was restored to completeness after playing onstage in a slightly abridged version). The 1989 complete recording, however, often praised as the best so far, did not win a Grammy.
He is considered by some to be the greatest American composer of the twentieth century.
Although Gershwin completed only four songs for his score for the film The Goldwyn Follies at the time of his premature death, three of them are considered among his best, "Love Walked In," "Love Is Here to Stay," and "I Was Doing Alright". Vernon Duke completed the songs for the film, which was neither a critical or popular success.
His satirical musical, "Of Thee I Sing", which lampooned the U.S. Presidency, the Vice Presidency, and the entire impeachment process, was never filmed by Hollywood because it was considered too much of a political hot potato. It was, however, produced as a television special in a very toned-down and altered version, in 1972.
Some of his stage musicals, such as "Oh, Kay!" and "Tip-Toes", were made into silent pictures ( Oh Kay! , Tiptoes ), but never re-made in the sound era. "Tip-Toes" was staged on television as a Christmas season episode of the British anthology "The Jazz Age" in 1968.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Portrayed by Robert Alda in the somewhat fictionalized biopic Rhapsody in Blue .
Was allergic to champagne.
He and his brother Ira Gershwin were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the musical "Of Thee I Sing" collaborating with George S. Kaufman , Morrie Ryskind , and Ira Gershwin.
The Hollywood house that he lived in was later owned by Jos Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney.
Ira Gershwin and his musical, "Porgy and Bess", at the Court Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Musical Production (Large).
Brother-in-law of Leonore Gershwin.
Gershwin was only 25-years-old when he composed his enduring masterpiece "Rhapsody in Blue".
Ira Gershwin and his musical, "Crazy for You" at the Drury Lane Productions Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2017 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Large Musical Production.
True music must repeat the thoughts and inspirations of the people and,the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.
American popular music, since its origin, has been steadily gaining in,originality. Today it may truly lay claim to being the most vital of,contemporary music. Unfortunately however, most songs die at an early,age and are soon completely forgotten by the selfsame public that once,sang them with great gusto. The reason for this is that they are sung,and played too much when they are alive, and cannot stand the strain of,their very popularity. This is especially true since the invention of,the phonograph, and moreso since the widespread conquest of the radio.
Sheet music, as ordinarily printed for mass sales, is arranged with an,eye for simplicity. The publishers cannot be blamed for getting out,simplified versions of songs, since the majority of the purchasers of,popular music are little girls with little hands, who have not,progressed very far in their study of the piano.
To play American popular music most effectively, one must guard against,the natural tendency to make too frequent use of the sustaining pedal.
Our study of the great romantic composers has trained us in the method,of the legato, whereas our popular music asks for staccato effects, for,almost a stencilled style. The rhythms of American popular music are,more or less brittle; they should be made to snap, and at times to,crackle. The more sharply the music is played, the more effective it,sounds.
Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange,instruments which do not require ideas.
Composing at the piano is not a good practice, But I started that way,and it has become a habit. . The actual composition must be done in the,brain.
In composing, we combine what we know of music with what we feel. I see,a piece of music in the form of a design. With a melody, one can take,in the whole design in one look. With a larger composition, like a,concerto, it is necessary to take it piece by piece and then construct,it so much longer.
True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time.
