George Gershwin, named Jacob Gershowitz at birth, was born
on September 26th, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were
Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. After immigrating to the United States in the
early 1890s, Gershwin's father Morris (Moishe) changed his family name to
"Gershvin." George later changed the spelling to "Gershwin" after becoming a
professional musician. The second of four children, Gershwin began to show an
interest in music at ten years of age and began playing the piano his parents
had bought for his older brother Ira. He studied with multiple teachers for two
years until he was introduced to Charles Hambitzer. Hambitzer became a mentor
for young George, teaching him conventional piano technique and encouraging him
to attend orchestra concerts. Later, he studied with composer's Rubin Goldmark
and Henry Cowell.
Gershwin left school at the age of fifteen and found his
first job as a performer for Jerome H. Remick and Company, a publishing firm on
New York City's Tin Pan Alley. His first song, "When You Want 'Em, You Can't
Get 'Em, When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em" was published in 1916. A few
years later in 1919, his song "Swanee" with words by Irving Ceasar was a
national hit. In the early 1920s, he and lyricist Buddy DySylva produced an
experimental one-act jazz opera titled Blue
Monday, which has come to be regarded as the precursor to Porgy and Bess. In 1924, George and his
older brother Ira teamed up to produce the stage musical comedy Lady Be Good. Over the following years
George and Ira produced more musicals containing many of his most popular songs.
Of Thee I Sing (1931) was the first
musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Gershwin's first major classical work, Rhapsody in Blue, was composed in 1924. While staying in Paris he
applied to study with both Nadia Boulanger and Maurice Ravel, among others.
However, he was rejected by these prospective tutors fearing that an intense
classical study would be a detriment to his jazz-influenced style. During this
time, he composed An American in Paris. Eventually,
however, Gershwin grew tired of Paris and returned to the
United States. In 1935, Gershwin produced his most ambitious work, Porgy and Bess which he termed a "folk
opera," and has since become one of the most important American operas of the
20th century.
Early in 1937, Gershwin was diagnosed with a brain tumor
causing him to suffer from blinding headaches and olfactory hallucinations.
Later in the year, while working on the score for The Goldwyn Follies, he collapsed. On July 11th, 1937,
Gershwin passed away at the age of 38. He was nominated posthumously for an
Academy Award at the 1937 Oscars for Best Original Song with "They Can't Take
That Away from Me."
George Gershwin
Biography
George Gershwin, named Jacob Gershowitz at birth, was born on September 26th, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. After immigrating to the United States in the early 1890s, Gershwin's father Morris (Moishe) changed his family name to "Gershvin." George later changed the spelling to "Gershwin" after becoming a professional musician. The second of four children, Gershwin began to show an interest in music at ten years of age and began playing the piano his parents had bought for his older brother Ira. He studied with multiple teachers for two years until he was introduced to Charles Hambitzer. Hambitzer became a mentor for young George, teaching him conventional piano technique and encouraging him to attend orchestra concerts. Later, he studied with composer's Rubin Goldmark and Henry Cowell.
Gershwin left school at the age of fifteen and found his first job as a performer for Jerome H. Remick and Company, a publishing firm on New York City's Tin Pan Alley. His first song, "When You Want 'Em, You Can't Get 'Em, When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em" was published in 1916. A few years later in 1919, his song "Swanee" with words by Irving Ceasar was a national hit. In the early 1920s, he and lyricist Buddy DySylva produced an experimental one-act jazz opera titled Blue Monday, which has come to be regarded as the precursor to Porgy and Bess. In 1924, George and his older brother Ira teamed up to produce the stage musical comedy Lady Be Good. Over the following years George and Ira produced more musicals containing many of his most popular songs. Of Thee I Sing (1931) was the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Gershwin's first major classical work, Rhapsody in Blue, was composed in 1924. While staying in Paris he applied to study with both Nadia Boulanger and Maurice Ravel, among others. However, he was rejected by these prospective tutors fearing that an intense classical study would be a detriment to his jazz-influenced style. During this time, he composed An American in Paris. Eventually, however, Gershwin grew tired of Paris and returned to the United States. In 1935, Gershwin produced his most ambitious work, Porgy and Bess which he termed a "folk opera," and has since become one of the most important American operas of the 20th century.
Early in 1937, Gershwin was diagnosed with a brain tumor causing him to suffer from blinding headaches and olfactory hallucinations. Later in the year, while working on the score for The Goldwyn Follies, he collapsed. On July 11th, 1937, Gershwin passed away at the age of 38. He was nominated posthumously for an Academy Award at the 1937 Oscars for Best Original Song with "They Can't Take That Away from Me."