George Gershwin

1898-1937, American composer and big band leader

His scores to Musicals, including Lady, Be Good! 1924 and Of Thee I Sing - 1931, made him famous. In his extended compositions, e.g., Rhapsody in Blue 1923 and An American in Paris - 1928, he blended traditional with folk and Jazz elements. Gershwin wrote the music for the folk opera Porgy and Bess 1935. His brother, Ira Gershwin, 1896-1983, wrote lyrics to many of his compositions.

Compostitions include:

• Porgy and Bess - 1935 - Summertime The NPR 100
• Rhapsody in Blue - 1923
• The man I love - 1923
• An American in Paris - 1928
• Of Thee I Sing - 1931 which won a Pulitzer Prize
• 'S Wonderful
• Lady Be Good
• Someone to Watch over Me
• Fascinating Rhythm - 1924
• Bidin' my Time
• I Got Rhythm - 1930 which got on The NPR 100
• They can't take that away from me
• A Woman is a Sometime Thing
• But Not for Me - 1930
• Nice work if you can get it
• Second Rhapsody - 1932
• What Causes That?
• Shall We Dance - 1937 which won Academy Awards: Best Music (Original Song)
• Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - 1937

Related nodes:

• 20th Century Classical Music

Source: http://www.hnh.com/composer/gershwin.htm Last Updated 02.08.03

George Gershwin was a popular American composer. He was born, in Brooklyn, New York City on the 25th of September 1898, and died in Hollywood on the 11th of July 1937.

He is most famous for writing Jazz music. Items of his work include An American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess, Swanee, and La, La Lucille.