Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 6, 1896 in New York City, NY

Death

:

August 17, 1983 in Beverly Hills, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist and composer who is best known for his collaborations with his younger brother, George Gershwin. Born on December 6, 1896, in New York City, Ira was the eldest of four children born to Morris and Rose Gershwin, Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a successful businessman who owned a string of clothing stores, while his mother was a homemaker who encouraged her children's artistic pursuits. Ira showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. He was a gifted student and quickly developed a love for classical music, particularly the works of Chopin and Liszt. However, it was his younger brother George who showed the most promise as a musician, and Ira soon realized that his talents lay in writing lyrics. In 1916, Ira dropped out of high school to pursue a career in show business. He began writing lyrics for a variety of vaudeville acts and soon caught the attention of the famous composer and producer, George White. White hired Ira to write lyrics for his Broadway revues, and Ira quickly established himself as one of the most talented lyricists of his generation. In 1924, Ira teamed up with his brother George to write the score for the musical comedy, Lady, Be Good!. The show was a huge success and launched the brothers' career as one of the most successful songwriting teams in history. Over the next decade, the Gershwin brothers wrote some of the most iconic songs of the 20th century, including "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," and "They Can't Take That Away from Me." In addition to their work on Broadway, the Gershwin brothers also wrote music for Hollywood films. In 1937, they wrote the score for the film, Shall We Dance, which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The film featured several classic Gershwin songs, including "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "They All Laughed." Despite their success, the Gershwin brothers faced many challenges throughout their career. George struggled with health problems and died at the age of 38 from a brain tumor. Ira was devastated by his brother's death but continued to write lyrics for other composers, including Kurt Weill and Jerome Kern. In 1959, Ira was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his work on the musical, Fiorello!. The show, which was based on the life of New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, featured music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Ira. The Pulitzer Prize was a fitting tribute to Ira's talent and dedication to the art of songwriting. In the years that followed, Ira continued to write lyrics for a variety of projects, including the musicals, Funny Girl and The Man Who Came to Dinner. He also collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the musical, Candide, which premiered on Broadway in 1956. Ira Gershwin died on August 17, 1983, at the age of 86. He left behind a legacy of timeless songs that continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. His contributions to the world of music have earned him a place among the greatest lyricists of all time.

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