George gershwin biography pbs frontline

His life embodied the American dream. Starting from nothing, he used his talents and musical intuition to build a fortune and an international reputation. George Gershwin’s music touched a diverse array of audiences and forms, from popular song to concerti to opera.

In his short life he helped shape the future of American music.

Gershwin’s parents emigrated from Russia in and settled in a poor community on the lower east side of Manhattan. As a young child, George was far from studious and he wasn’t exposed to much music at all.

He was far too interested in street sports.

George gershwin biography pbs frontline

Then, when he was 11 the family acquired an upright piano. George took to the instrument very quickly. He began to take lessons in composition, theory and counterpoint with many different instructors, yet he never became a proficient sight-reader.

He played “by ear”.

When Gershwin was 15, he left school to become a pianist and songwriter on Tin Pan Alley. It was a collection of music