The Gershwin Brothers: Their Lives and Their Music

“Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris,” “Porgy and Bess,” were some of over 500 compositions created by George Gershwin (1896 – 1937) during his very brief life. What was his path from New York city song plugger to Hollywood composer of film scores? His older brother Ira (1896 – 1983) collaborated with him to write the lyrics for songs like, “I Got Rhythm, “Embraceable You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” The last song they wrote together, "Our Love is Here to Stay," is perhaps symbolic of their partnership. Ira continued his lyricist journey after the death of his brother with composers like Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. What motivated two Brooklyn born brothers with Russian Jewish heritage to compose such innovative music? The core book, The Gershwin Years: George and Ira, is both the definitive biography of the Gershwin brothers and a lavishly illustrated chronicle of the American era their music and lyrics embodied. With the help of YouTube, we will be enjoying many of their musical works each week.