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George Gershwin

George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), the songs "Swanee" (1919) and "Fascinating Rhythm" (1924), the jazz standards "Embraceable You" (1928) and "I Got Rhythm" (1930), and the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), which included the hit "Summertime".

Gershwin studied piano under Charles Hambitzer and composition with Rubin Goldmark, Henry Cowell, and Joseph Brody. He began his career as a song plugger but soon started composing Broadway theater works with his brother Ira Gershwin and with Buddy DeSylva. He moved to Paris, intending to study with Nadia Boulanger, but she refused him, afraid that rigorous classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style; Maurice Ravel voiced similar objections when Gershwin inquired about studying with him. He subsequently composed An American in Paris, returned to New York City and wrote Porgy and Bess with Ira and DuBose Heyward. Initially a commercial failure, it came to be considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century and an American cultural classic.

Gershwin moved to Hollywood and composed numerous film scores. He died in 1937, only 38 years old, of a brain tumor.

His compositions have been adapted for use in film and television, with many becoming jazz standards.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 26, 1898 (Brooklyn), Died July 11, 1937 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, session supervisor, conductor, celeste

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 513 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-30174 12-in. 4/21/1927 Rhapsody in blue George Gershwin ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra and piano soloist composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-22749 12-in. 4/23/1919 Somebody's sweetheart and good morning, Judge Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-23645 10-in. 1/26/1920 Swanee All Star Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor C-23885 12-in. 4/6/1920 Nobody but you Palace Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor B-24084 10-in. 6/15/1920 Scandal walk Van Eps Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Victor B-24141 10-in. 5/21/1920 Waiting for the sun to come out Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with violin duet and orchestra composer  
Victor B-24159 10-in. 6/9/1920 Swanee Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-24488 10-in. 9/22/1920 The sweetheart shop Roy Bargy ; Benson Orchestra of Chicago Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-25476 10-in. 8/30/1921 South Sea isles Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-25595 10-in. 10/11/1921 Drifting along with the tide Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with 2 violins, oboe, and orchestra composer  
Victor B-25674 10-in. 10/27/1921 When Buddha smiles Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26247 10-in. 3/15/1922 Do it again! Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26607 10-in. 6/2/1922 The Yankee Doodle blues Virginians Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26748 10-in. 9/1/1922 I'll build a stairway to paradise Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26749 10-in. 9/1/1922 I found a four-leaf clover Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26885 10-in. 9/19/1922 The Yankee Doodle blues Billy Murray ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27451 10-in. 2/2/1923 That American boy of mine Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28310 10-in. 7/24/1923 The life of a rose Charles Dornberger Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28912 10-in. 11/5/1923 I won't say I will (But I won't say I won't) Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano and violin composer  
Victor B-30075 10-in. 5/12/1924 Virginia Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor C-30173 12-in. 6/10/1924 Rhapsody in blue George Gershwin ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CVE-30173 12-in. 4/21/1927 Rhapsody in blue George Gershwin ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra and piano soloist composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-30174 12-in. 6/10/1924 Rhapsody in blue George Gershwin ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra and piano soloist composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-30380 10-in. 7/11/1924 Somebody loves me Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30700 10-in. 8/19/1924 Somebody loves me Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 513 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gershwin, George," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102427.

Gershwin, George. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102427.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102427

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