- Fact 2 - Date of Birth: Gershwin was
born on September 26, 1898
- Fact 3 - Place of Birth: Brooklyn,
New York, U.S.A.
- Fact 4 - Full Name: George Gershwin
aka Jacob Gershwin, his real name was Jacob Gershowitz. He was
the second of 4 children who included his brother, Ira Gershwin
- Fact 5 - Lifespan: 1898-1937
- Fact 6 - Name of mother and father:
His parents names were Morris (Moishe) Gershowitz and
Rosa Bruskin. His father changed his family name to 'Gershvin'
after immigrating to the United States from St. Petersburg,
Russia
- Fact 7 - Family background: George
Gershwin's Jewish parents emigrated from Russia to the U.S.A. in
1891 and lived in the poor lower east side of Manhattan
- Fact 8 - Childhood and education:
His family were poor but his parents bought a piano for his
older brother Ira - but it was George who wanted to learn music
and master the piano. His parents paid for music lessons.
Charles Hambitzer, the pianist in the Beethoven Symphony
Orchestra, became his mentor. He was also studied with American
composers and musicians including Rubin Goldmark, Henry Cowell,
Wallingford Riegger and Joseph Schillinger
- Fact 9 - George Gershwin quit
school at the age of 15 and became a pianist for a publisher on
Tin Pan Alley
- Fact 10 - George Gershwin wrote the
song 'Swanee' in 1918 which was sung by Al Jolson. 'Swanee' was
a massive hit and brought George Gershwin both fame and fortune
- Fact 11 - George Gershwin wrote the
music and the lyrics for nearly all his songs were written by
his brother, Ira Gershwin
- Fact 12 - George and Ira
Gershwin wrote musical comedies such as Scandals (1920-24), Lady
Be Good (1924), Funny Face (1927)
- Fact 13 - In 1924 the bandleader
Paul Whiteman commissioned George Gershwin to write some music
which resulted in Rhapsody in Blue for piano and jazz band
- Fact 14 - George Gershwin had an affair with composer Kay
Swift which lasted 10 years
- Fact 15 - In 1936 George Gershwin
was commissioned by RKO Pictures to compose songs and the
underscore for the movie Shall We Dance, starring Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers
- Fact 16 - In 1937 Gershwin began to
complain of blinding headaches and he under went a brain
operation. He died during the operation
- Fact 17 - Date of Death: George
Gershwin died on July 11, 1937 in Hollywood, California - just
38 years old
- Fact 18 - George Gershwin was inducted into the Songwriters
Hall of Fame in 1970. His types of compositions and works included
operas, musicals, songs, piano music and orchestral music
- Fact 19 - George Gershwin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
posthumously to mark the centenary of his birth
- Fact 20 - His music lives on and
the musical works of this famous composer and musician George
Gershwin include the following:
- Operas by George Gershwin:
- Porgy and Bess
Instrumental Solo
Three Preludes
- Classical music by George Gershwin:
- Rhapsody in Blue
Piano Concerto in F
An American in Paris
- Musicals by George Gershwin:
- Lady Be Good
Funny Face
Girl Crazy
Of Thee I Sing
Let Them Eat Cake
Strike Up The Band
Pardon My English
My One And Only
Crazy For You
- Most famous popular songs by George Gershwin:
- Fascinating Rhythm
The Man I Love
Lady Be Good
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Someone To Watch Over Me
Foggy Day
I Got Rhythm
S'Wonderful
Swanee
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Embraceable You
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