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Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 20th century. With George, he wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows, featuring songs such as "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me". He was also responsible, along with DuBose Heyward, for the libretto to George's opera Porgy and Bess.

The success the Gershwin brothers had with their collaborative works has often overshadowed the creative role that Ira played. His mastery of songwriting continued after George's early death in 1937. Ira wrote additional hit songs with composers Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, Harry Warren and Harold Arlen. His critically acclaimed 1959 book Lyrics on Several Occasions, an amalgam of autobiography and annotated anthology, is an important source for studying the art of the lyricist in the golden age of American popular song.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 6, 1896 (Manhattan), Died August 17, 1983 (Beverly Hills)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 271 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-83380 10-in. 7/13/1934 What can you say in a love song Richard Himber ; Joey Nash ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-83381 10-in. 7/13/1934 You're a builder upper Richard Himber ; Joey Nash ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor CVE-92835 12-in. 7/3/1935 Strike up the band Boston Pops Orchestra ; Arthur Fiedler Orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-94170 10-in. 9/3/1935 I know that you know [from Oh! Please] Lewine and Lewis Piano duet lyricist  
Victor CS-95388 12-in. 10/14/1935 Porgy and Bess Helen Jepson ; Alexander Smallens ; Lawrence Tibbett Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CS-95390 12-in. 10/14/1935 Porgy and Bess Alexander Smallens ; Lawrence Tibbett Baritone vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor CS-95466 12-in. 10/23/1935 Porgy and Bess Alexander Smallens ; Lawrence Tibbett Baritone vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor CS-95467 12-in. 10/23/1935 Porgy and Bess Alexander Smallens ; Lawrence Tibbett Baritone vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-98198 10-in. 12/4/1935 I got rhythm Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-98425 10-in. 12/14/1935 It ain't necessarily so Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Victor BS-98426 10-in. 12/14/1935 I got plenty o' nuttin' Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Victor BS-98454 10-in. 12/23/1935 Words without music Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-98455 10-in. 12/23/1935 That moment of moments Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06431 10-in. 3/20/1937 They can't take that away from me Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06546 10-in. 3/26/1937 Shall we dance Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-06619 10-in. 3/10/1937 They all laughed Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06620 10-in. 3/10/1937 (I've got) Beginner's luck Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06634 10-in. 3/12/1937 They can't take that away from me Ozzie Nelson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06636 10-in. 3/12/1937 They all laughed Ozzie Nelson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06693 10-in. 3/19/1937 Let's call the whole thing off Shep Fields ; Bobby Goday ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-06695 10-in. 3/19/1937 (I've got) Beginner's luck Shep Fields ; Bobby Goday ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-07844 10-in. 4/22/1937 Let's call the whole thing off Jerry Cooper ; Eddy Duchin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-07865 10-in. 4/26/1937 Rhythm, rhythm Lionel Hampton Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor PBS-09429 10-in. 5/3/1937 I got rhythm Hope Hampton Dubbed recording from film : Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBS-09692 10-in. 9/8/1937 Foggy day in London Skinnay Ennis ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 51-75 of 271 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gershwin, Ira," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.

Gershwin, Ira. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.

"Gershwin, Ira." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148

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