George Gershwin

Bio

George Gershwin (1898–1937) was an American composer whose works bridged classical music and popular song. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he began his career as a song-plugger on Tin Pan Alley and quickly gained fame with the 1924 jazz-influenced orchestral piece Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin composed numerous Broadway musicals with his brother Ira as lyricist, including Lady Be Good!, Of Thee I Sing, and the folk-opera Porgy and Bess. His concert works, such as the Piano Concerto in F and An American in Paris, remain staples of the orchestral repertoire. His synthesis of jazz, blues, and classical forms helped define a distinctly American sound in 20th-century music.