George Gershwin
Composer
1898 – 1937
Who was George Gershwin?
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, as well as the opera Porgy and Bess.
Gershwin studied piano under Charles Hambitzer and composition with Rubin Goldmark and Henry Cowell. He began his career as a song plugger, but soon started composing Broadway theatre works with his brother Ira Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. He moved to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger, where he began to compose An American in Paris. After returning to New York City, he wrote Porgy and Bess with Ira and the author DuBose Heyward. Initially a commercial failure, Porgy and Bess is now considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century. Gershwin moved to Hollywood and composed numerous film scores until his death in 1937 from a brain tumor.
Gershwin's compositions have been adapted for use in many films and for television, and several became jazz standards recorded in many variations. Many celebrated singers and musicians have covered his songs.
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- Born
- Sep 26, 1898
Brooklyn - Also known as
- George
- Gershwin
- Jacob Gershowitz
- G. Gershwin
- George Gershswin
- Geo Gershwin
- Gershwin (1898-1937)
- Gershwin, George
- George and Ira Gershwin
- Gershwsin
- Parents
- Siblings
- Ethnicity
- Ashkenazi Jews
- Jewish people
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Harvard University
- Lived in
- New York City
- Brooklyn
- Died
- Jul 11, 1937
Los Angeles - Resting place
- Westchester Hills Cemetery
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"George Gershwin." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/george_gershwin>.
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