George Gershwin
(1898–1937)

George Gershwin in 1937Anecdote 1...

The pianist and wit Oscar Levant, Gershwin's close friend, once asked the composer confidentially, "Tell me, George, if you had to do it all over, would you fall in love with yourself again?"

ANECDOTE 2...

A girl whom Gershwin had admired married someone else. Gershwin's only comment was, "If I wasn't so busy, I'd be upset."

ANECDOTE 3...

After Gershwin's death an admirer with musical aspirations wrote an elegy for him and took it to Oscar Levant. Levant reluctantly agreed to hear the piece. Afer the man had finished playing it, he turned to Levant, looking for his approval. "I think," said Levant, "it would have been better if you had died and Gershwin had written the elegy."


Biographical Note...

U.S. composer and songwriter. Among his numerous successes were Rhapsody in Blue (1924), An American in Paris (1928), and Porgy and Bess (1935). He wrote music for films and stage shows and such well-known songs as "I Got Rhythm" and "Lady Be Good."


More Information...

READ the Wikipedia entry for George Gershwin. Visit the official website for George and Ira Gershwin where you can listen to some of the Gershwin brothers' music and learn about their remarkable partnership.