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 Photos

George Gershwin Productions

Crazy For YouCrazy For You
 
[West End, 2023]
Music & Lyrics
An American in ParisAn American in Paris
 
[Broadway, 2015]
Music and Lyrics
Lady, Be Good!Lady, Be Good!
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
Music
An American in Paris
 
[Paris, 2014]
Compsoer
The Show is On
 
[Broadway, 1937]
Composer
The Show is On
 
[Broadway, 1936]
Composer
Girl Crazy
 
[Broadway, 1930]
Conductor
Lucky
 
[Broadway, 1927]
Composer
The Dancing Girl
 
[Broadway, 1923]
Composer
George White's Scandals [1922]
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Music
For Goodness Sake
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Composer
Blue Eyes
 
[Broadway, 1921]
Composer
Good Morning, Judge
 
[Broadway, 1919]
Composer
Ladies First
 
[Broadway, 1918]
Composer

Writing

Do It Again!
Music
Composer
Funny Face
Composer
George Gershwin Alone
Composer/Lyricist
The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm
Composer
Composer/Lyricist
Girl Crazy
Composer
Jolson & Co.
Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Mr. Words
Composer
Oh, Kay!
Composer
Our Nell
Composer
Composer
Pardon My English
Composer
Composer
Primrose
Composer
Rosalie
Composer
Composer
Show Girl
Composer
Song of the Flame
Composer
Composer
Stairway to Paradise
Sketches/Composer/Lyricist
Strike Up the Band
Composer
Composer
Sweet Little Devil
Composer
Composer
Tell Me More!
Composer
Composer
Tip-Toes
Composer
Composer
Treasure Girl
Composer
Composer
Who Cares?
Composer

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

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George Gershwin News


Fantasia Orchestra Will Perform Two Concerts at the 2024 Proms at St Jude's Photo
Fantasia Orchestra Will Perform Two Concerts at the 2024 Proms at St Jude's

Fantasia Orchestra – a dynamic ensemble of some of the UK’s finest young musicians who have recently announced their BBC Proms debut this year – will perform two concerts at the 2024 Proms at St Jude’s, their sixth consecutive year at the festival.
Review: JOE JACKSON at At Davidson Theatre Photo
Review: JOE JACKSON at At Davidson Theatre

What did our critic think of JOE JACKSON at At Davidson Theatre?
Max Clayton, Sally Struthers, Angie Schworer & More to Star in CRAZY FOR YOU at Ogunq Photo
Max Clayton, Sally Struthers, Angie Schworer & More to Star in CRAZY FOR YOU at Ogunquit Playhouse

Ogunquit Playhouse has revealed the full cast for CRAZY FOR YOU. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
Review: I GOT RHYTHM from choreographer David Nixon CBE Photo
Review: I GOT RHYTHM from choreographer David Nixon CBE

I GOT RHYTHM kicks off the season that marks 90 years of Cape Town City Ballet. And that is something that we should be truly proud of here in the cape. I was curious to see that CTCB went with something non-traditional for the start of this big season. I GOT RHYTHM celebrates the music of George Gershwin.
Princeton Festival Opens With Superstar Soprano Angel Blue In June Photo
Princeton Festival Opens With Superstar Soprano Angel Blue In June

The Princeton Festival, running from June 7-22, opens with GRAMMY-winning soprano Angel Blue performing her favorite arias.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra to Present Peter Boyer's RHAPSODY IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE Photo
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra to Present Peter Boyer's RHAPSODY IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents the Virginia premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with piano soloist Jeffrey Biegel. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Free Concerts By The No Name Pops to Take Place in Philadelphia This Month Photo
Free Concerts By The No Name Pops to Take Place in Philadelphia This Month

Enjoy free concerts by the NO NAME POPS in Philadelphia this month. Join the community for an evening of live music and entertainment.
LADY, BE GOOD Comes to Teatro Massimo Opera House Palermo Photo
LADY, BE GOOD Comes to Teatro Massimo Opera House Palermo

A brand-new production of the Gershwin musical LADY, BE GOOD will premiere at the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy on Tuesday 18 June.
JULIET EWING: RISE UP SINGING Returns To Don't Tell Mama This June Photo
JULIET EWING: RISE UP SINGING Returns To Don't Tell Mama This June

Juliet Ewing returns with her solo cabaret debut, 'Rise Up Singing,' featuring the music of George Gershwin on June 19 at 7PM at DON'T TELL MAMA.
Review: Opening Night at Pops Showcases George Gershwin, Harry Connick, Jr., and More Photo
Review: Opening Night at Pops Showcases George Gershwin, Harry Connick, Jr., and More

There were three great pianists on the program when the Boston Pops recently opened its 138th season at Symphony Hall.
Cast and Creatives Set For PORGY AND BESS at Music Theater Heritage Photo
Cast and Creatives Set For PORGY AND BESS at Music Theater Heritage

Music Theater Heritage has announced the cast and creative team for The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Performances run June 6 through June 23.
Springfield Chamber Players Return To Longmeadow Adult Center For Free Outdoor Concer Photo
Springfield Chamber Players Return To Longmeadow Adult Center For Free Outdoor Concert

The Springfield Chamber Players will return to the Longmeadow Adult Center with a free performance by Quartetto Mosso on Thursday, June 13, at 6PM. The performance, held rain or shine, features violinists Ronald Gorevic and Beth Welty, violist Delores Thayer, and cellist Yoonhee Ko.
SOUTH PACIFIC & More Announced For Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's 55th Seas Photo
SOUTH PACIFIC & More Announced For Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's 55th Season

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston (RMT) will bring three timeless and timely classics to the stage for its 55th Season: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific (June 14- June 23, 2024),  All Shook Up, inspired by the music of Elvis Presley (July 12 - July 21, 2024), and An American in Paris (August 9 - August 18, 2024). 
Photos: Inside An Evening With Jason Robert Brown at 92NY Photo
Photos: Inside An Evening With Jason Robert Brown at 92NY

The 92NY Lyrics & Lyricists presented An Evening with Jason Robert Brown last night.  Check out photos here!
Reagle Music Theatre Of Greater Boston Reveals 55th Season Photo
Reagle Music Theatre Of Greater Boston Reveals 55th Season

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston will bring three timeless and timely classics to the stage for its 55th Season. Learn more about the lineup here!
South Coast Repertory Announces LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS And More For 2024-25 Season Photo
South Coast Repertory Announces LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS And More For 2024-25 Season

Discover the exciting lineup for SOUTH COAST REPERTORY's 2024-25 Season, featuring three world premieres: JOAN by Daniel Goldstein, THE STAIRCASE by Noa Gardner, and a surprise play yet to be announced.
Louisa Lee Poster Brings SWINGING DOWN TIN PAN ALLEY To Silvana Tonight Photo
Louisa Lee Poster Brings SWINGING DOWN TIN PAN ALLEY To Silvana Tonight

Visit Silvana on May 8, 2024 for an evening of jazz with Louisa Lee Poster in SWINGING DOWN TIN PAN ALLEY.
Review: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at Bastrop Opera House Photo
Review: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at Bastrop Opera House

The musicals of the 1920s-1940s are rich territory for parody since many imported the stylistic elements (vaudeville, dance hall style, revue, et al.) of popular entertainment of the era to carry the shows, often disadvantaging well-developed plot lines and complex characters.
Celebrity Series of Boston Reveals 2024/25 Season Photo
Celebrity Series of Boston Reveals 2024/25 Season

Celebrity Series of Boston has announced its 2024/25 season, marking 86 years of bringing world-class touring and local performing artists to Boston. Learn more about the season lineup here!
PACIFIC SYMPHONY SUMMERFEST 2024 Season Announced At Irvine's New Amphitheater Photo
PACIFIC SYMPHONY SUMMERFEST 2024 Season Announced At Irvine's New Amphitheater

A new chapter begins for Pacific Symphony and the Orange County community, when the orchestra settles into its brand new summer home at Great Park Live located in the heart of Irvine
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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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