Ira Gershwin
Songwriter, known for his collaborations with his brother, George Gershwin. The two wrote hit songs for such musicals as Porgy and Bess, Ziegfeld Follies and Lady Be Good. Many of his songs have been performed by acting/dancing legends Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Chet Baker.
Born in New York, he was the elder of Ira and George Gershwin. Ira Gershwin developed a talent for writing and drawing in high school where he wrote a column in the school newspaper. After graduation he attended the City College of New York but dropped out to pursue a career in writing. In 1917 he sold his first magazine article. It was also in 1917 that a career involving singing and writing developed. Ira Gershwin became a reviewer for vaudeville shows. In 1918 the famous collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin began.
Because his younger brother George Gershwin had already made a name for himself on Broadway, Ira Gershwin took the pseudonym Arthur Francis. His first Broadway hit was in 1921 with Two Little Girls In Blue, a musical he produced with Vincent Youmans. In 1924, Ira Gershwin experienced a plethora of Broadway success and dropped the pseudonym.
Together Ira and George Gershwin wrote several hits for Broadway musicals including "The Man I Love, " "'S Wonderful" and "Of Thee I Sing." During their career together Ira Gerswhin was content on George always being in the limelight. They wrote several musical scores including Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris, The Country Girl and The North Star.
When George Gershwin died in 1937, Ira Gershwin retired from songwriting. In 1941, Ira Gershwin began writing again. He worked with composer Kurt Weill in 1941 to produce Lady in the Dark. He also worked with Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. In 1959 he released an album of his work, Lyrics on Several Occasions. Ira Gershwin finally retired in 1960 after more than three decades of songwriting.
Ira Gershwin's musical genius did not go unnoticed. He received three Oscar nominations; in 1938 for Best Music, Song, "They Can't Take That Away From Me, " from the musical Shall We Dance?; in 1945 for Best Music, Song "Long Ago and Far Away" from the musical Cover Girl and in 1955 for Best Music, Song "The Man That Got Away" from the musical A Star Is Born. His lyrics and songwriting made him famous despite his allowance to let his brother George Gershwin always take the spotlight. Ira Gershwin's contributions to the success of those Broadway musicals remains seen by many. He died in Beverly Hills in 1983. As a tribute to his musical genius and accomplishments Ira Gershwin received a star on the Walk of Fame, June 4, 1998.
© Kim Summers /TiVo
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Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Crazy For You (Original London Cast Recording)
Originele soundtracks - Released by First Night Records on 11 okt. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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George & Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good
Pop - Released by Nonesuch on 1 jan. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tryout (a Series of Private Rehearsal Recordings) (Demo)
Originele soundtracks - Released by Radiophone Archives on 7 aug. 2018
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strike Up the Band
Musicals - Released by Nonesuch - Warner Records on 1 jan. 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George & Ira Gershwin's Oh, Kay!
Pop - Released by Nonesuch on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
ARMSTRONG, Louis: I've Got The World On A String (1930-1933) (Louis Armstrong, Vol. 2)
Klassiek - Released by Naxos on 15 mrt. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lady, Be Good! (2015 Encores! Cast Recording)
Originele soundtracks - Released by Ghostlight Records on 2 okt. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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George & Ira Gershwin: Pardon My English
Originele soundtracks - Released by Nonesuch - Warner Records on 13 sep. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
2014 Midwest Clinic: VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band (Live)
Ira Gershwin, VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band, Samantha Elliott, Charles T. Menghini, Denny Senseney, Gary Green
Klassiek - Released by Mark Records on 28 apr. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Morning; Catfish Row
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Heyward DuBose
Jazz - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 23 jun. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vintage Hollywood Classics, Vol. 4: Original Soundtracks
Klassiek - Released by Jube Pops on 1 okt. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
2014 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA): All-State Jazz Ensemble I & All-State Jazz Ensemble II [Live]
Ira Gershwin, Heyward DuBose, TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble I, Texas All-State Jazz Ensemble II, Terell Stafford, Conrad Herwig
Jazz - Released by Mark Records on 24 jun. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
GERSHWIN, G. - Conversations with I. Gershwin, Astaire, Levant, Whiteman, Schwarz and Alfred Newman (Thomas)
Klassiek - Released by Delos on 1 jan. 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maxwell, Linn: Gershwin Among Friends
Moderne jazz - Released by Albany on 1 jan. 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo