George Gershwin
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.
Date of Birth: September 26, 1898
Date of Death: July 11, 1937 (38)
Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY
Latest News on 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.
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George Gershwin
Connection
Movies
[ 1937 ] music by
[ 1938 ] music by
[ 1945 ] music
[ 1951 ] music by
[ 1957 ] songwriter
[ 1964 ] songs by
[ 2013 ] music
[ 2018 ] music and lyrics by
Awards and Nominations
George Gershwin, The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess
winner
George Gershwin, Crazy For You
Videos
Video: First Look at GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR at Farmers Alley Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2026-04-22 15:31:56
Video: Brittany Renee And Ryan Speedo Green Sing From PORGY AND BESS At The Metropolitan Opera
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-29 20:41:17
News
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 7, 2026
The reimagined Emery Theater in Cincinnati earned five honors recognizing its historic preservation and transformation into a permanent home for The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, completed with Terrex Development & Construction and architectural firm GBBN.
by Rachel Stone - Oct 5, 2026
Actor Ray Romano and executive producer Rory Rosegarten will be inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, making history as the organization's first non-music inductees in its 22-year history.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 5, 2026
Jazz pianist Ron Drotos reunites with vocalists Lina Koutrakos, Dorian Woodruff, and Juliet Ewing at Pangea for an encore performance featuring jazz, bossa, ballads, and blues.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 2, 2026
Los Angeles Ballet will present its original production of THE NUTCRACKER at Royce Hall and the Dolby Theatre, featuring choreography by Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, with a sensory-friendly performance also scheduled.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2026
The San Francisco Symphony's November lineup includes three orchestral series programs, a collaboration with Alonzo King LINES Ballet featuring two world premieres, the symphony's 19th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, and performances by soloists Hélène Grimaud and Hilary Hahn.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 30, 2026
Award-winning pianist Roberto Plano performs at Weill Recital Hall, opening the Key Pianists Concert Series' 11th season with works by Schubert, Liszt, Mompou, and Gershwin.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 29, 2026
Hershey Felder returns to West Palm Beach with THE PIANO & ME, a new play with music that recounts his journey as a composer and performer. The limited engagement runs at Palm Beach Dramaworks' Don & Ann Brown Theatre.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Sep 29, 2026
See photos from the September 24 show, revisiting musical moments from the past decade along with new selections never previously performed, snapped by Conor Weiss
by Rachel Stone - Sep 29, 2026
Temple University's Studio, Symphony and Jazz Orchestras will perform an all-American program at Alice Tully Hall featuring the world premiere of TWO FIVE O, Reflections by composer John Clayton, alongside works by Bernstein, Gershwin and others.
by Felicitas de la Fare - Sep 30, 2026
What did our critic think of ALESSANDRA MATTANZA AND ANALIA FARFAN BRING ART, DANCE AND ANIMAL ADVOCACY TO THE UNITED N at United Nations?
by Rachel Stone - Sep 25, 2026
Violinist Itzhak Perlman released a new recording of the George Gershwin classic featuring Ella Fitzgerald's voice, the second single from his album THE WAY WE WERE: MY AMERICAN SONGBOOK.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 24, 2026
JazzYYC will present its annual Canadian Festival across multiple Calgary venues, featuring headliner Dawn Pemberton and other Canadian jazz artists. Ticket prices range from free to $65, with discounted $20 tickets available for attendees under 25.
by Andrew Poretz - Sep 24, 2026
Mary Porter brings Southern charm to 54 Below in Southern Nights, a rollicking, guest-filled celebration featuring NaTasha Yvette Williams, Seth Sikes, Richard Skipper, Edmund Bagnell, and a terrific band.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 23, 2026
Conductor Everett McCorvey leads two concerts celebrating American composers George Gershwin and Duke Ellington as Music Worcester's Artist-in-Residence, featuring the Worcester Chorus, National Chorale, and guest soloists at venues including Hanover Theatre and Mechanics Hall.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2026
Michael Feinstein and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony will present a celebration of George Gershwin's musical legacy and his contemporaries who shaped the Golden Age of Hollywood film scoring.
by ErinMarie Reiter - Sep 20, 2026
'Good Night, Oscar' is full of comedy, music, celebrity, addiction, mental illness, ambition, and the uncomfortable bargain between an artist and an audience that wants to consume his genius. This production at North Coast Repertory Theatre handles it all with impressive performances and empathy.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 18, 2026
Los Angeles Ballet has announced its 2026-27 season, featuring American Icons, The Nutcracker, Movers and Shakers, the company premiere of Coppélia and a special Hollywood Bowl engagement with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 18, 2026
Pianist Lucas Debargue has released GERSHWIN VARIATIONS, a double album featuring recordings with Orchestre de Paris and original études inspired by George Gershwin's compositions.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2026
Taige Wang, 16, has been named inaugural Artist-in-Residence for the MUSICON Music Festival, which will present its opening concert at The Blanc in New York City featuring classical masterworks and Wang's world premiere chamber composition.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 16, 2026
FIM in Flint, Michigan hosts October programming including THE ROCKET MAN SHOW on October 1, Jesse McCartney on October 3, LITTLE RIVER BAND on October 9, and the Flint Symphony Orchestra on October 10. The venue partners with the Security Credit Union Foundation's Pink Party to support breast cancer awareness.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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).
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.
George Gershwin has won the American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for "Crazy For You".
