Ira Gershwin

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Ira Gershwin , actually Israel Gershowitz , (according to other sources often incorrectly Isidore , called Izzy as a child , also wrote under the pseudonym Arthur Francis; * December 6, 1896 in New York City , † August 17, 1983 in Beverly Hills ) was a US -american songwriter and librettist .

Life

Ira was the eldest brother of the composer George Gershwin and two other siblings, Arthur (1900–1981) and Frances (1906–1999). From 1924 until the untimely death of George in 1937, they created numerous standard works of American musical literature of the 20th century. The high point of her work was the opera Porgy and Bess . Ira wrote the lyrics (for Porgy and Bess together with DuBose Heyward ), George composed the music. Ira and George Gershwin were among the most successful teams on Broadway . Her works have been performed by stars such as Fred Astaire and his sister Adele , Gertrude Lawrence , Red Nichols , Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers .

After 1937, Ira Gershwin wrote other classics with composers such as Harold Arlen , Jerome Kern and Kurt Weill . Songs by Ira Gershwin were the standard repertoire for all great singing stars like Judy Garland , Ella Fitzgerald , Frank Sinatra or Barbra Streisand . Ira Gershwin was Liza Minnelli's godfather .

In 1986, Ira Gershwin and his brother were awarded the Grammy Trustees Award for achievements in music.

Famous songs

Major works

  • Lady, Be Good (1924), music by George Gershwin
  • Tip-Toes (1925), music by George Gershwin
  • Oh, Kay! (1926), music by George Gershwin
  • Funny Face (1927), music by George Gershwin
  • Strike Up The Band (1927/1930), music by George Gershwin
  • Rosalie (1928), music by George Gershwin
  • Girl Crazy (1930), music by George Gershwin
  • Of Thee I Sing (1931), music by George Gershwin
  • Pardon My English (1933), music by George Gershwin
  • Let 'Em Eat Cake (1933), music by George Gershwin
  • Life Begins at 8:40 (1934), music by Harold Arlen
  • Porgy and Bess (1935), music by George Gershwin
  • Lady in the Dark (1941), music by Kurt Weill
  • The Firebrand Of Florence (1945), music by Kurt Weill
  • Park Avenue (1946), music by Arthur Schwartz

Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Deena Rosenberg: Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin . University of Michigan Press, 1991, ISBN 0-472-08469-0 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search [accessed March 28, 2018]).
  2. ^ Isidore and Jacob Gershwin: Who could ask for anything more? In: The Jewish Voice . April 24, 2014 (English, jvhri.org [accessed November 2, 2017]).
  3. ^ Philip Furia: Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist . Oxford University Press, Oxford / New York 1997, ISBN 978-0-19-535394-5 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search [accessed November 2, 2017]).
  4. ^ Howard Pollack: George Gershwin: His Life and Work . University of California Press, Berkeley / Los Angeles / London 2007, ISBN 978-0-520-93314-9 , pp. 255 ( limited preview in Google Book Search [accessed August 17, 2017]).
personal data
SURNAME Gershwin, Ira
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gershowitz, Israel (real name); Arthur Francis (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American songwriter and librettist
DATE OF BIRTH December 6, 1896
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH 17th August 1983
Place of death Beverly Hills