George Gershwin

Full Name: George Gershwin born Jacob Gershwine
Profession: Composer and Pianist

Nationality:

Biography: Of Russian and Jewish heritage, George Gershwin grew up in the tenements of New York to become one of the 20th century's most important composers.

Gershwin worked as a "song plugger" from the age of 15, his first big hit was the song "Swanee" with words by Irving Caesar. He went on to produce the classical work, "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1924, establishing his ability to mix different musical styles, from classical to jazz to popular music.

A number of musicals followed which have become classics including "Funny Face" (1927), "An American in Paris (1928) and "Girl Crazy" (1930), which made a star of Ginger Rogers. Many of his musicals were written with his older brother Ira Gershwin as the lyricist, including the opera "Porgy and Bess" which premiered in 1935.

In 1936 Gershwin moved to Hollywood to write music for films, winning his sole Academy Award (with brother Ira) for "They Can't Take That Away from Me" from the 1937 film "Shall We Dance". The honor came posthumously, as he died of brain tumor complications before the film's release.

George Gershwin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. The US Postal Service honored George by himself with a commemorative stamp in 1973, and together with his brother Ira in 1999. In 2007, the US Library of Congress established the "Gershwin Prize for Popular Song" in honor of the brothers, awarded to a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music.

Born: September 26, 1898
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Libra

Died: July 11, 1937 (aged 38)
Cause of Death: Brain herniation with Duret haemorrhages