Ira Gershwin was a prominent American music composer, best known for his collaborations with his brother, George Gershwin . They both wrote hit songs for musicals such as Porgy and Bess, Ziegfeld Follies, and Lady Be Good. Many of their songs have been performed by acting and dancing legends such as Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Chet Baker.
Biographical summary
Ira Gershwin was born in New York City on September 26, 1898 ; he was older than his brother George. Ira developed his talent for writing and drawing in high school, where he wrote a column for the school newspaper. After graduating, he attended the City College of New York, but dropped out to devote himself to writing. In 1917 he sold his first article to a magazine. Also in 1917 he began a career that included singing and writing. Ira Gershwin became a critic for vaudeville shows. A year later he began the famous collaboration with his brother George.
Because his younger brother George Gershwin had already made a name for himself on Broadway, Ira took the pseudonym Arthur Francis. His first Broadway success came in 1921 with Two Little Girls In Blue, a musical he produced with Vincent Youmans. By 1924 , he had achieved a major Broadway success and abandoned his 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 was content to keep George in the spotlight. 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 retired from composing. In 1941 he 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 own, Lyrics on Several Occasions. Ira Gershwin finally retired in 1960 after more than three decades of composing.
Ira Gershwin’s musical genius did not go unnoticed. He received three Academy Award 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, with “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 compositions made him famous despite his willingness to allow his brother George Gershwin to always take the spotlight. Ira Gershwin’s contribution to the success of those Broadway musicals remains recognized by many.
He died in Beverly Hills in 1983. As a tribute to his musical genius and achievements, Ira Gershwin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 4, 1998.