George Gershwin Headshot

George Gershwin

Date of Death: July 11, 1937 (38)

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY

Get George Gershwin Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

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]
Music
 
[Paris, 2014]
Compsoer
 
[Broadway, 1937]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1936]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1930]
Conductor
 
[Broadway, 1927]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1923]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Music
 
[Broadway, 1922]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1921]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1919]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1918]
Composer

Writing

Music
Composer
Composer
Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Sketches/Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
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

George Gershwin News


11,000+ NYC Students Participate In Interactive Link Up Concerts At Carnegie Hall This May


Over 11,000 students from New York City will participate in the interactive Link Up concerts at Carnegie Hall from May 21 to 23, 2024, as part of an innovative educational program.

Edmonton Jazz Festival Society To Present JazzFest Marque Winspear Event


Discover the fusion of Edmonton Jazz Orchestra and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the JazzFest Marque Winspear Event.

UArts and No Name Pops to Present Music on the Square This Spring


In a first-time partnership, University of the Arts and The No Name Pops, the former musicians of The Philly Pops, have planned the UArts Music on the Square series with two evenings of music on Rittenhouse Square. See details!

New Jersey Symphony Summer Season to Feature GODFATHER, BAAHUBALI, Free Parks Concerts, and More


The New Jersey Symphony will present two epic films in concert with the score played live by the orchestra this summer, as well as concerts in the parks, a concert featuring emerging composers and a free preview concert of the upcoming 2024–25 season.

Review: AUTUMN IN NEW YORK: VERNON DUKE'S BROADWAY Is a Crowd-Pleaser at Chelsea Table + Stage


At Chelsea Table + Stage, Klea Blackhurst 'Box Set' shows are continuing to draw crowds and bring smiles. Songs of Vernon Duke were on the bill in April, and May 5 will find her saluting Jerry Herman.

Klea Blackhurst to Return to Chelsea Table + Stage With ONE OF THE GIRLS


CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present the return of Klea Blackhurst in “The Box Set,” a fantastic season-long retrospective of the celebrated theater and concert artist’s acclaimed shows. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Music Returns to Kohl Mansion in May


Virtuosic pianist Ilya Yakushev returns to Kohl Mansion for a unique collaborative concert with members of the elite St. Lawrence String Quartet, violinist Owen Dalby and cellist Christopher Costanza, in a program anchored by the glorious Brahms Piano Trio, No. 1.

DATE NIGHT AT THE MET With Edward W. Hardy Returns This Weekend


Renowned composer-violinist Dr. Edward W. Hardy returns to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for Date Night At The Met.

TheatreWorks Reveals Lineup For 2024-25 Season of World and Regional Premieres, Commissions, and More


TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced its 54th season—a lineup of works to be presented October 2024 through July 2025. Learn more about the full lineup here!

SDC Foundation Awards Cristin Carole with 2023-2024 Denham Fellowship


Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, has named Cristin Carole as this season’s SDCF Denham Fellow . Learn more!

Interview: Klea Blackhurst Brings Broadway History to Life at Chelsea Table + Stage


Singer Klea Blackhurst has long been doing tribute shows rich in song and Broadway history. Now, starting this Sunday, April 14th at 7 pm, Blackhurst will be revisiting each of these shows in a season-long series of “The Box Set” at Chelsea Table + Stage, starting this Sunday with “Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway.”

World Music Institute Presents Béla Fleck: Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody


Join the World Music Institute for an unforgettable night with Béla Fleck, who reinvented the sound of the banjo. Learn how to purchase tickets!

La Fundación Juan March presenta HISTORIAS DEL MUSICAL


El próximo 13 de abril tendrá lugar en la Fundación Juan March el primer concierto del ciclo HISTORIAS DEL MUSICAL, cuatro fechas en las que se hará un repaso por la historia del Teatro Musical desde sus inicios.

Susanne Mack Returns To Pangea With SEA LEGS


Celebrated cabaret chanteuse Susanne Mack navigates a variety of calm and stormy nautical-themed tunes in her latest cabaret show, 'Sea Legs.'

Celebrity Series of Boston: Patti LuPone A LIFE IN NOTES


After two previous appearances with the Celebrity Series of Boston in 2003 and 2011, the long overdue return of Patti LuPone to the stage at Symphony Hall on Tuesday night was an epic performance worth the wait. Enthusiastic entrance applause greeted Joseph Thalken (music direction and arrangements) and Brad Phillips (strings), but rose to Richter scale magnitude when Patti strode out.

Minnesota Orchestra's 2024 Summer Festival Celebrates Orchestra Hall's 50th Anniversary


Join the Minnesota Orchestra's 2024 Summer Festival to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Orchestra Hall.

Carnegie Hall Presents The Knights at Zankel Hall This May


Join The Knights as they conclude the Carnegie Season on May 16 with new works honoring family by renowned composers Montgomery, Kahane, and Clyne. This captivating performance promises to be a memorable end to the season.

The Knights to Conclude Carnegie Hall Season With Commissions by Montgomery, Kahane & Clyne


The Knights will conclude their inaugural Carnegie Hall season with new commissions honoring family by Montgomery, Kahane, and Clyne. Learn more!

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara Reveals 2024-25 Season


Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara has announced its 2024-2025 season: “Legends and Legacies.” Featuring an electrifying lineup of timeless classics and contemporary masterpieces sure to captivate audiences! 

Feature: Special April Birthday Salute �" Who Is She?????


Our 'Born This Month' Cabaret Birthday Salute goes to a woman with an incredible life story. An amazing musical inspiration. Do you know her name? Born in April, she changed music history during her 106-year life. Read about her in our monthly birthday feature.

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".

Get George Gershwin Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos