George Gershwin Biography

Fast Facts

• Along with Ira Gershwin, he received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1985
• Was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006
• Was posthumously honored with a special Pulitzer Prize commemorating the centennial year of his birth and his distinguished and enduring contributions to American music
• As a teenager, he worked as a song plugger for a New York publishing firm
• Quote: "Life is a lot like jazz․․ it's best when you improvise․"
• Best known for composing "Rhapsody in Blue," his attempt to reconcile Tin Pan Alley with Carnegie Hall by combining jazz with classical music
• Collaborated extensively with his brother Ira Gershwin, writing subtle melodies to his brother's lyrics
• His picture appeared on an 8 cent U․S․ commemorative postage stamp issued in 1973
• According to an estimate of his accrued earnings throughout his lifetime by "The Guardian," he was the wealthiest composer of all time as of 2005
• He and Ira Gershwin wrote the fight song for UCLA, "Strike Up the Band for UCLA․"