The New York Times: George Gershwin
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George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swanee" (1919) and "Fascinating Rhythm" (1924), the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), the jazz standards "Embraceable You" (1928) and "I Got Rhythm" (1930) and the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), whi…
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culture · American composer and pianist (1898–1937) · composer · jazz pianist · songwriter · film score composer · painter · conductor · pianist · also George Gershwin, Jacob Gershvin, Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz, George Jacob Gershwin, Dzhordzh Gershvin, Gershwin
Born 26 September 1898 · Died 11 July 1937 · Q123829
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Al Jolson, George Gershwin, Irving Caesar, Swanee 1920
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2026· 1 entry
2025· 1 entry
BroadwayWorld: RISE UP SINGING - THE MUSIC OF GEORGE GERSHWIN Returns To Don't Tell Mama
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2024· 2 entries
Vanity Fair: George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” Turns 100
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Wall Street Journal: George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ Still Hits the Right Notes at 100
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2023· 1 entry
The Gershwin Critical Edition, "the first-ever scholarly edition of the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin", was published
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2020· 1 entry
On Gershwin's pre-1925 work
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2010· 2 entries
Smithsonian Magazine: Summertime for George Gershwin
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Brian Wilson released Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, consisting of ten George and Ira Gershwin songs, bookended by passages from Rhapsody in Blue, with two new songs completed from unfinished Gershwin fragments by Wil
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2007· 3 entries
The first Gershwin Prize was awarded to Paul Simon
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The Library of Congress created the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (aka, Gershwin Prize) in honor of both George and Ira Gershwin
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The Library of Congress named its Gershwin Prize for Popular Song after George and Ira Gershwin
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2006· 1 entry
Gershwin was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
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2005· 2 entries
Jazz: Bill Charlap: Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul
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The Guardian determined using "estimates of earnings accrued in a composer's lifetime" that George Gershwin was the wealthiest composer of all time
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1998· 3 entries
Awarded star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (1998).
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Awarded Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards (1998).
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A special Pulitzer Prize was posthumously awarded to Gershwin "commemorating the centennial year of his birth, for his distinguished and enduring contributions to American music
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1993· 1 entry
Two audio CDs featuring piano rolls recorded by Gershwin were issued by Nonesuch Records through the efforts of Artis Wodehouse, entitled Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls
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1992· 7 entries
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue, Second Rhapsody & Piano Concerto in F Major”.
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Released album “An American in Paris / Grand Canyon Suite / Adagio”.
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Released album “Fascinating Rhythms”.
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Released album “George Gershwin Song Book: 20 Instrumentals & Vocals”.
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Released album “Bernstein: West Side Story / Gershwin: Porgy and Bess”.
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Released album “Gershwin Overtures”.
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Released album “Gershwin Collection”.
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1991· 4 entries
Released album “The Gershwins in Hollywood”.
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Released album “Rediscovered II”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Piano Concerto / Song-Book”.
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Released album “Gershwin Bernstein”.
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1990· 7 entries
Released album “Fascinating Rhythm: The Complete Music for Solo Piano”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris / Piano Concerto”.
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Released album “Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Addinsell: Warsaw Concerto”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto in F, An American in Paris”.
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Released album “Gershwin: 3 Preludes / 6 Songs / Corea: 20 Children's Songs”.
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Released album “Arias and Barcarolles / School for Scandal / An American in Paris”.
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Released album “Gershwin by Gershwin”.
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1989· 11 entries
Released album “Complete Piano Works”.
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Released album “Gershwin: Piano Concerto / Cuban Overture / Milhaud: La Création du monde”.
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Released album “Selections From Porgy and Bess”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Appalachian Spring / Quiet City / Knoxville / Adagio”.
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Released album “Highlights from Porgy and Bess”.
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Released album “West Side Story”.
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Released album “Virtuoso Piano Music”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris / Porgy and Bess (Orchestral Suite)”.
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Released album “Pops by George”.
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Released album “20th Century Original Piano Transcriptions”.
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Released album “Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite / Gershwin: Porgy and Bess Suite”.
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1988· 9 entries
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Concerto in F”.
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Released album “Music of George Gershwin”.
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Released album “An American in Paris (The Philadelphia Orchestra)”.
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Released album “Gershwin: An American in Paris / Rhapsody in Blue / Concerto in F”.
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Released album “An American in Paris / Cuban Overture / Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture”.
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Released album “Gershwin: American in Paris / Concerto in F / Barber: Symphony no. 1”.
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Released album “An American in Paris / Porgy & Bess: A Symphonic Picture”.
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Released album “Ravel: Bolero / Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Gershwin: An American in Paris / Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune / Barber: Adagio for Strings”.
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Released album “Second Rhapsody: Music for Two Pianos by George Gershwin”.
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1987· 16 entries
Released album “Strike Up the Band: The Canadian Brass Plays George Gershwin”.
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Released album “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Rhapsody in Blue”.
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Released album “Gershwin Gold: Volume Two”.
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Released album “Kiri Sings Gershwin”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Electric Blue”.
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Released album “Concerto in F / Rhapsody in Blue”.
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Released album “A Broadway Extravaganza!”.
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Released album “François-Joel Thiollier joue Gershwin”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris / Lullaby / Cuban Overture”.
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Released album “Catfish Row (Suite From "Porgy And Bess") / An American in Paris / Cuban Overture / Lullaby”.
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Released album “Piano Music / Songs”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in blue, Concerto en fa / Rhapsodie sur un thème de Paganini”.
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Released album “George Gershwin Plays Rhapsody in Blue (using the original piano rolls)”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / The Gershwin Songbook / Who Cares?”.
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Released album “L’Oeuvre pour Piano”.
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Released album “Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite / Gershwin: Porgy & Bess: Symphonic Suite “Catfish Row””.
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1986· 4 entries
Awarded Grammy Trustees Award (1986).
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Released album “George Gershwin's Song Book”.
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Released album “Piano Concerto”.
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Released album “Ties & Tails”.
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1985· 5 entries
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano / Preludes / Unpublished Piano Works”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Concerto in F / American in Paris”.
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Released album “Fascinatin' Rampal Plays Gershwin”.
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The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to George and Ira Gershwin
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris”.
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1984· 2 entries
Released album “George Gershwin: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F / Aaron Copland: Billy The Kid”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / “I Got Rhythm” Variations / Catfish Row”.
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1983· 5 entries
Released album “Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Barber: Adagio for Strings / Copland: Appalachian Spring”.
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Piano Concerto in F: versions for two pianos”.
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Broadway's Uris Theatre was renamed the Gershwin Theatre in honor of George and Ira Gershwin
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Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Piano Concerto in F / An American in Paris”.
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Released album “The Gershwin Album”.
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1982· 2 entries
Released album “Concerto pour piano - Rhapsody in Blue”.
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George Gershwin was inducted into the Jewish-American Hall of Fame
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1981· 3 entries
Released album “Previn Conducts Gershwin”.
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Released album “Porgy and Bess in Concert / Girl Crazy Overture”.
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Released album “Barbara Hendricks Sings Gershwin”.
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1978· 1 entry
Released album “Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/An American in Paris”.
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1977· 1 entry
Released album “Gershwin: An American in Paris / Russo: Street Music”.
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1976· 3 entries
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris / Broadway Overtures”.
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RCA Records reissued a collection of Gershwin's original recordings on the album Gershwin plays Gershwin, Historic First Recordings (RCA Victrola AVM1-1740)
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Released album “Porgy and Bess”.
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1975· 1 entry
Columbia Records released an album featuring Gershwin's piano rolls of Rhapsody in Blue, accompanied by the Columbia Jazz Band playing the original jazz band accompaniment, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
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1974· 1 entry
Released album “The Complete Gershwin: Works for Orchestra, Piano & Orchestra”.
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1972· 1 entry
Released album “"Porgy & Bess" and "An American in Paris"”.
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1970· 2 entries
Released album “Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3 / Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Ravel: Concerto for Left Hand”.
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The New York City Ballet premiered Who Cares
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1967· 2 entries
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue”.
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Released album “George Gershwin Plays Rhapsody in Blue and Other Favorites”.
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1966· 1 entry
Released album “Rhapsody In Blue / An American In Paris / Concerto In F”.
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1965· 1 entry
Movietone Records released an album MTM 1009 featuring Gershwin's piano rolls of the titled George Gershwin plays RHAPSODY IN BLUE and his other favorite compositions
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1962· 1 entry
Released album “Rhapsody in Blue / Un américain à Paris”.
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1961· 1 entry
Released album “An American in Paris / Rhapsody in Blue”.
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1960· 1 entry
Released album “Concerto in F Major & Rhapsody in Blue”.
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1959· 1 entry
Released album “The George Gershwin Story”.
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1956· 1 entry
Released album “George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess”.
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1953· 1 entry
Released album “Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture / Gould: Spirituals”.
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1945· 1 entry
The film biography Rhapsody in Blue was made, starring Robert Alda as George Gershwin
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1937· 9 entries
At which Otto Klemperer conducted his own orchestration of the second of Gershwin's Three Preludes
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Died 1937-07-11.
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But I don't have to believe that if I don't want to
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Performed his Piano Concerto in F in a special concert of his music with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the direction of French maestro Pierre Monteux
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Gershwin received his sole Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 1937 Oscars for "They Can't Take That Away from Me", written with his brother Ira for the 1937 film Shall We Dance
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Gershwin began to complain of blinding headaches and a recurring impression that he smelled burning rubber
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And some of the songs for The Goldwyn Follies
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“My people are American, my time is today…music must repeat the thought and aspirations of the times.”
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Ira continued working with Vernon Duke on the latter film and it was released in 1938
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1936· 1 entry
Was commissioned by RKO Pictures to write the music for the film Shall We Dance, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
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1935· 1 entry
RCA Victor asked him to supervise recordings of highlights from Porgy and Bess; these were his last recordings
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1934· 1 entry
In an effort to earn money to finance his planned folk opera, Gershwin hosted his own radio program titled Music by Gershwin
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1933· 1 entry
“The Composer in the Machine Age”
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1929· 2 entries
The Gershwin brothers created Show Girl; the following year brought Girl Crazy, which introduced the standards "Embraceable You", sung by Ginger Rogers, and "I Got Rhythm"
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Gershwin "supervised" the world premiere recording of An American in Paris with Nathaniel Shilkret and the Victor Symphony Orchestra
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1928· 1 entry
But it quickly became part of the standard repertoire in Europe and the United States
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1924· 1 entry
Gershwin composed his first major work, Rhapsody in Blue, for orchestra and piano
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1922· 1 entry
Created the experimental one-act jazz opera Blue Monday, set in Harlem
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1919· 1 entry
Gershwin scored his first big national hit with his song "Swanee", with words by Irving Caesar
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1918· 1 entry
Hambitzer remained Gershwin's musical mentor, taught him conventional piano technique, introduced him to music of the European classical tradition, and encouraged him to attend orchestral concerts
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1916· 2 entries
With Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Harold Atteridge
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Gershwin started working for Aeolian Company and Standard Music Rolls in New York City, recording and arranging
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1913· 1 entry
Gershwin left school at the age of 15 to work as a "song plugger" on New York City's Tin Pan Alley
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1898· 1 entry
Born 1898-09-26.
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1896· 1 entry
After which the family moved into a second-floor apartment at 242 Snediker Avenue in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn
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1895· 1 entry
And Gershovitz soon Anglicized his name to Gershwine
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