George Gershwin Headshot

George Gershwin

Date of Death: July 11, 1937 (38)

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY

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George Gershwin BIO

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16 he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George his first real fame and led to his writing a succession of 22 musical comedies, most with his older brother, Ira. The Gershwins' shows include Lady Be Good, Oh, Kay!, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Of Thee I Sing. From his early career George had ambitions to compose serious music, and his classical masterpieces include "Rhapsody In Blue," "Concerto In F," "An American In Paris" and "Second Rhapsody." In the late '20s George became fascinated by the DuBose Heyward novel Porgy, recognizing it as a perfect vehicle for opera using jazz and blues idioms. The folk opera Porgy and Bess had its Broadway premiere in October of 1935. In 1937 George was at the height of his career. While working on the score of The Goldwyn Follies in Hollywood, he collapsed, and on July 11, died of a brain tumor. He was not quite 39 years old.

George Gershwin Productions

 
[West End, 2023]
Music & Lyrics
 
[Broadway, 2015]
Music and Lyrics
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
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[Paris, 2014]
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[Broadway, 1937]
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[Broadway, 1936]
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[Broadway, 1930]
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[Broadway, 1927]
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[Broadway, 1923]
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[Broadway, 1922]
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[Broadway, 1921]
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[Broadway, 1919]
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[Broadway, 1918]
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George Gershwin Movies

Shall We Dance
[ 1937 ] music by
The Goldwyn Follies
[ 1938 ] music by
Rhapsody in Blue
[ 1945 ] music
An American in Paris
[ 1951 ] music by
Funny Face
[ 1957 ] songwriter
Kiss Me, Stupid
[ 1964 ] songs by
The Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'
[ 2013 ] music
An American in Paris - The Musical
[ 2018 ] music and lyrics by

George Gershwin Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2007 - Best New Musical

George GershwinThe Gershwins' Porgy And Bess


winner
Olivier Awards - 1993 - The American Express Award for Best New Musical

George Gershwin, Crazy For You

George Gershwin Videos

George Gershwin News


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George Gershwin FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has George Gershwin written?

George Gershwin has written 48 shows including Half-Past Eight (Composer), La, La, Lucille (Composer), La-La-Lucille! (Composer), Morris Gest's "Midnight Whirl" (Composer), George White's Scandals [1920] (Composer), Snapshots of 1921 (Composer), The Broadway Whirl (Composer), George White's Scandals [1921] (Composer), The French Doll (Composer), George White's Scandals [1922] (Composer), Our Nell (Composer), George White's Scandals [1923] (Composer), Sweet Little Devil (Composer), George White's Scandals [1924] (Composer), Primrose (Composer), Lady, Be Good (Composer), Tell Me More! (Composer), Tip-Toes (Composer), Song of the Flame (Composer), Oh, Kay! (Composer), Strike Up the Band (Composer), Funny Face (Composer), Rosalie (Composer), Treasure Girl (Composer), Show Girl (Composer), Girl Crazy (Composer), Of Thee I Sing (Composer), Pardon My English (Composer), Let 'Em Eat Cake (Composer), Porgy and Bess (Composer), All Points West (Composer), Who Cares? (Composer), Do It Again! (Composer), Mr. Words (Composer), My One and Only (Composer), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (Additional Music), Reaching for the Moon (Composer), Crazy for You (Composer), The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm (Composer/Lyricist), Jolson & Co. (Composer/Lyricist), American Rhapsody: A New Musical Revue (Composer), George Gershwin Alone (Composer/Lyricist), Elaine Stritch At Liberty (Composer), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist), The Gershwins' An American In Paris (Composer), Come Fly Away (Composer), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Composer), A Night With Janis Joplin (Composer).

What awards has George Gershwin been nominated for?

George Gershwin has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable nominations include Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess" and the American Express Award for Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards for "Crazy For You". These nominations highlight the recognition and acclaim that Gershwin's musical works have received in the industry.

What awards has George Gershwin won?

George Gershwin has won the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You".

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