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Gershwin
Examines the life of George Gershwin, including his work in Hollywood, his collaboration with his brother Ira on Broadway, and the evolution of his serious music
436 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
Edward Jablonski
53 books4 followersEdward Jablonski was the author of several biographies on American cultural personalities, such as George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Alan Jay Lerner and Irving Berlin, as well as books on aviation history.
Jablonski was born in Bay City, Michigan to a family of Polish-American journalists and writers. His father had been a writer for Sztandar Polski and another relative, Paul F. Jablonski, wrote for the Bay City Times. Early on he fell in love with the music of George and Ira Gershwin. A fan letter he wrote to Ira while in school quickly turned into regular correspondence and eventually a lasting friendship with the lyricist.
While Jablonski was interested in music, his true fascination was with aviation. Supposedly, he spent much of his time watching the planes at the James Clements Airport near the South End of Bay City. He had grown up, he said later, listening to the music of the day as he ''hung around the airport watching the planes.'' As a schoolboy he also started a correspondence with Gershwin. Later on in his life, he became interested in aerial warfare. Telling an interviewer in 1986, "Aviation makes possible the most deadly form of warfare ever -- the perversion of one of man's greatest inventions."
He served in the United States Army Field Artillery in New Guinea during World War II. For his actions in New Guinea, he was awarded the Silver Star.
After leaving the army, he attended junior college in Bay City as a pre-journalism major. He continued his studies at the New School for Social Research, receiving his bachelor's in 1950. He also completed postgraduate work in anthropology at Columbia.
While working for the March of Dimes charity in New York, Jablonski wrote articles and music reviews for a number of small magazines as well as liner notes for albums; this was the beginning of a fifty-year freelance career.
At the time of his death, he was working on "Masters of American Song", which would have been a comprehensive history of American pop music.
Jablonski was born in Bay City, Michigan to a family of Polish-American journalists and writers. His father had been a writer for Sztandar Polski and another relative, Paul F. Jablonski, wrote for the Bay City Times. Early on he fell in love with the music of George and Ira Gershwin. A fan letter he wrote to Ira while in school quickly turned into regular correspondence and eventually a lasting friendship with the lyricist.
While Jablonski was interested in music, his true fascination was with aviation. Supposedly, he spent much of his time watching the planes at the James Clements Airport near the South End of Bay City. He had grown up, he said later, listening to the music of the day as he ''hung around the airport watching the planes.'' As a schoolboy he also started a correspondence with Gershwin. Later on in his life, he became interested in aerial warfare. Telling an interviewer in 1986, "Aviation makes possible the most deadly form of warfare ever -- the perversion of one of man's greatest inventions."
He served in the United States Army Field Artillery in New Guinea during World War II. For his actions in New Guinea, he was awarded the Silver Star.
After leaving the army, he attended junior college in Bay City as a pre-journalism major. He continued his studies at the New School for Social Research, receiving his bachelor's in 1950. He also completed postgraduate work in anthropology at Columbia.
While working for the March of Dimes charity in New York, Jablonski wrote articles and music reviews for a number of small magazines as well as liner notes for albums; this was the beginning of a fifty-year freelance career.
At the time of his death, he was working on "Masters of American Song", which would have been a comprehensive history of American pop music.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 6, 2017
I've read a lot of books about George Gershwin; so it would have been tempting to pass this one by, especially since my "to read" list is incredibly long. However, since I knew that this biography is highly respected by those "in the know", I decided that that would be a foolish choice. That was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
This book stands out for several reasons. Jablonski fell in love with Gershwin's work when he was a young boy and began a correspondence with George's brother, Ira. He has spent much of his life exploring Gershwin's work and has been very friendly with the Gershwin family. Though he does not speak about this connection , I believe it is one reason the biography is so excellent. The book is carefully researched, of course, but, beyond that, Jablonski's passion for and knowledge of his subject comes across loud and clear.
Writers are frequently admonished to "show, don't tell." That strategy is definitely at work here. As I read, I felt as though I were watching Gershwin and his contemporaries live their lives. I observed trips to Paris, opening nights on Broadway, successes and failures, and all the other things which make up a life.
If you are going to read one book about George Gershwin, this is the one to read. You'll come away with a deep understanding of the man and his music.
This book stands out for several reasons. Jablonski fell in love with Gershwin's work when he was a young boy and began a correspondence with George's brother, Ira. He has spent much of his life exploring Gershwin's work and has been very friendly with the Gershwin family. Though he does not speak about this connection , I believe it is one reason the biography is so excellent. The book is carefully researched, of course, but, beyond that, Jablonski's passion for and knowledge of his subject comes across loud and clear.
Writers are frequently admonished to "show, don't tell." That strategy is definitely at work here. As I read, I felt as though I were watching Gershwin and his contemporaries live their lives. I observed trips to Paris, opening nights on Broadway, successes and failures, and all the other things which make up a life.
If you are going to read one book about George Gershwin, this is the one to read. You'll come away with a deep understanding of the man and his music.
March 27, 2018
I loved learning more about one of my all-time favorite composers. I knew some basics about Gershwin before reading the book, but now I know details about how he composed his incredible "Rhapsody in Blue," "An American in Paris," "Concerto in F," his folk opera "Porgy and Bess," and all of his wonderful songs with his brother Ira as lyricist. He was such a genius and was so willing to bend musical rules and do things which had never been done before. His blend of classical and jazz elements is incredible to me and always will be. In saying all of that, yes, I did enjoy the book and all that it taught me, but it was just way too detailed for me. At times it was rather dry, so I found myself skimming certain segments of the book. I'm still glad that I read it, though.
April 21, 2019
A disappointing biography, so many details about the various Gershwin projects that just weren't that interesting to me. However, reading about his personal life, his relationship with his brother & his tragic early death were the parts of the story that came alive.
October 4, 2017
Great bio and fascinating read
December 27, 2020
More a textbook than enjoyable reading. There were a few anecdotes making the slog through the minutia bearable. 375 pages of making a vibrant musician into a tedious case study.
March 4, 2014
It took two years to read this penultimate bio of George Gershwin...reading GERSHWIN 15 minutes per day as I took a break from my piano practice. No detail was edited...every piece of music he penned...either analyzed almost note by note...or a brief mention of a song cut from a movie or show. Much background as to addresses he occupied, hints at romances, and much insight into the first three decades of the 20th Century. Read if you are a Gershwin fan...
December 15, 2012
Detailed biography, written well. I developed a sense of George Gershwin (and Ira) and the era in which they lived. The book also showed the development of some of the signature pieces of Gershwin's oeuvre. The difficulties he faced in getting acceptance for Porgy and Bess give insight into cultural attitudes in the intra-bellum generation.
April 28, 2016
Really enjoyable if more factual than anecdotal. Most of the archival recordings are readily available on streaming services so it really provides a great guide for an interactive look at both Gershwins' careers. Jablonski has posted YouTube footage he mentions of George and Schonberg in California. I looked up all kinds of peripheral material as a result of this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews