Gershwin

Life & Times

by Ruth Leon

This biography of George Gershwin (1898-1937) evokes the pace and color of New York in the 1920s and 1930s and places Gershwin at the center of the Jazz age. He rose from being one of the two talented sons of poor Russian-Jewish parents in Manhattan’s lower East Side to being the leading composer of his time. He was the bridge between serious music and light entertainment, the creator of the haunting Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess, and An American in Paris. His compositions are still used today as tools for teachers everywhere as examples of the American entrance to the musical world of Stravinsky, Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart.

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ralph Burton]

The ultimate American musical genius, himself a compromise between Broadway and African-American jazz. But even then, beyond that, there was the proud Russian-Jewish identity, same as me. I had idea he died so young, in 1937, right before the catastrophe of WW2

[Janie Gibson]

Very interesting and easy and fascinating read by Leon detailing the life and times of Gershwin, and his brilliant career.