Les Deux Gershwins
(Actually, there were four.)

George (sur la dorite) and Ira (sur la gauche)

OK. Who wrote: 🎵 I've got rhythm. I got music. ♪ ♩ I got good times. Who could ask for anything more? 🎶

Well, if you look on the

FOUNT OF
   ALL KNOWLEDGE

... you'll like as not read it was written by the famous George Gershwin.

And as you can guess by now, that would be:

WRONG!

Note we didn't ask who wrote the music. We asked who wrote the words.

And that, as all fans of Jazz Age¹ music know, was George's collaborator, lyricist, and older brother, Ira. Ira was the first of the four children born to Morris and Rose Gershwine. He was followed by George, Arthur, and Frances - all born in New York City. Ira was born in 1896 and George two years later. Arthur was born in 1900 and Frances in 1906. Eventually all of the kids dropped the final "e" and all became Gershwin.

The family originally bought their first piano for Ira but George soon showed he was the musician of the family. George enjoyed playing the piano and Ira cheerfully gave way to his younger sibling.

By his mid-teens George was good enough that he was selling songs to the group of musical publishing houses in Manhattan collectively and (we must admit it) rather derisively called "Tin Pan Alley". That a kid could sell songs to what has to be one of the most competitive industries seems strange today. But this was an era where there was a real demand for new music and in particular new music by new composers. It got to the point that even famous composers would sell music under a pseudonym to make it seem like there were more composers than there really were.

Piano sheet music had an especially large market. Remember that before the 1920's music of any quality had to be live music, and if you wanted good music you had to have someone perform it for you or you had to make it yourself. Economics usually dictated the latter option, and even poor families would have a piano in the parlor.

As a Tin Pan Alley composer, George wrote the music but not the words. In fact, you'll find a lot of songs have their composition divvied up between the lyricist (often called the librettist²) and the composer, who actually writes the music. Even less appreciated is that the actual story of a musical - the "book" - is usually written by someone else.

With some exceptions - Rogers and Hammerstein, Lowe and Lehrner, Lennon and McCartney - the composer - the tunemeister - is the one that's remembered. So we think of Mozart and The Marriage of Figaro, Bizet and Carmen, and Puccini and The Girl of the Golden West. But we don't remember Da Ponte, Halévy and Meilhac, and Civinini and Zangarini. A few composers write both the music and the words. Cole Porter was one. Richard Wagner was another. Richard - properly pronounced ree-KAHRD - was not just a great operatic composer and a major figure in the development of Western music. He was also a jerk.

"When You Want 'Em You Can Get 'Em" is usually cited as George's first published song, and depending on your source he got paid anything from 50¢ to $15. Ira supplied the words but under a pseudonym since it would look too tacky for too many Gershwins to appear on the copy.

It was in 1919 that George wrote the music for a full blown stage production, La La Lucille. Ira was not the lyricist but the play did fairly well. The following year it was made into a silent movie - rather an odd fate for a musical.

Then came George's BIG hit.

"Swanee" was written as a stand-alone song (in about an hour according to some accounts), but was performed in the stage revue, Demi-Tasse. The song didn't gain much notice until it was picked up by Al Jolson and became the hit song of 1920. Al performed the song many times, including in the 1945 biopic of George's life, Rhapsody in Blue. George was played by Robert Alda (yes, the father of Alan) and seen from today's standpoint Al's performance comes off as (at the best) unintentional self-parody. But that was mainstream entertainment.

And no, once again Ira didn't write the lyrics. Instead the wordsmith was Irving Caesar. The song was a staple well past the mid-20th Century and you can sometimes still hear the song today. There's even a version sung by Regis Philbin, for crying out loud!

After "Swanee", George (increasingly fortified by Ira's lyrics) never looked back and their songs continue to be performed, albeit modified for the styles of the singer and the times. One of their most popular songs (or at least most recorded) has been "I Got Rhythm" which virtually everyone has heard. A somewhat late composition - 1930 - it was from the musical Girl Crazy which in 1942 was turned into a film starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

As far as who has recorded the song, it's pretty much who you would expect: Ella Fitzgerald (of course), Louis Armstrong, Ethyl Merman, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Ethyl Waters, Paul Whiteman, Red Nichols, Leslie Uggams (with Mitch Miller and the Gang), Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Barbra³ Streisand, Stéphane Grapelli, Django Reinhardt, Connie Francis, Stan Kenton, Joe Venuti, Fats Waller, and even a rather lamentable arrangement by the 1960's group, The Happenings.

Oh, yeah. And also some guy named George Gershwin.

But of course, the song's been recorded by lots of others. A lengthier enumeration (in no particular order) includes (and to skip this rather formidable list click here) Bill Elliott and Wendi Williams, Bengt Anderssons kvintett, Bengt Hallberg, Luis Russell and His Orchestra, Ruby Braff, Chris Connor, Sistergold, Kreisjazzwerkerschaft, The Allen Toussaint Orchestra, Donna Antonow, The Mitchell-Ruff Trio, Connie Francis and Harve Presnell, Harpo Marx, The Jim Wilkes Stompers, Mady Kaye, Arthur Rhames Trio, Lacirignola Mino - Pino Pichierri - Renzo Bagorda - Muzio Petrella - Patty Lomuscio, Billy Stritch, Leonid Hambro, Gershon Kingsley, Kordt Sisters, Beatrice Lillie with Eadie and Rack at the Piano, Georgia Ciavatta, Ferrante and Teicher, The Jay Five, Craig Milverton, Ernestine Anderson, Ralph Sutton, Freeman Clark Trio, Don Stiernberg and John Carlini, Steve Greene Trio, Hampton Hawes, The Yellowjackets, The No-Gap Generation Jazz Band, François-Joël Thiollier, The George Maurer Group, Paul Motian, Robert Palmer, Vinnie Sperrazza - Jacob Sacks - Masa Kamaguchi, Lara Iacovini band, Kim Criswell, Ed Polcer and His Jazz All-Stars, Gloria Lynne with The Earl May Trio, Matt Catingub Big Band, featuring Mavis Rivers, Floyd Cramer, Joan Chamorro and Abril Saurí, Kansas City Stompers featuring Søren Christensen - Lars Erstrand - Ole Ousen, Sisters, Bobby Crush, Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra, Arnett Cobb, The Tony LaVorgna Big Band and Combo, Joe Venuti, Magnus Hjorth Trio, The Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Patricia Dean, 4 Giants of Swing, Buddy Greene, Marius Nordal, More Than a Pair, Carol Welsman, Paris Swing Orchestra, Ann Richards and Stan Kenton, Sarah Jane McMahon, Roberto Porroni, James Creitz, Benny Goodman Sextet, Leidsch Studenten Jazz Gezelschap, Jack Reilly, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Renato Sellani and Fabrizio Bosso, Karena Mendoza and Bobby Schiff, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Benny Waters and The Trevor Richards Trio with Marie-Ange Martin, Marni Nixon, Lincoln Mayorga, David Keith Jones, Ruthie Henshall, Pete Huttlinger, Eric Reed, Jenny Lin, Oliver Jones, George Chakiris, Knud Jörgensen, Klea Blackhurst, Roger King Mozian, Mike Oldfield, Joe Venuti with Lino Patruno and His Friends, Loring "Red" Nichols and His Orchestra - Vocal Chorus by Dick Robertson, Lulee Fisher, Nobuo Hara and His Sharps and Flats, Banu Gibson and New Orleans Hot Jazz, The Ballroom Band, Betty Bryant, The Minnesota Klezmer Band, Stacy Sullivan, Ben Light, The Bobby Doyle Three, Sheila Jordan and Cameron Brown, Natalie Thomas, Nieuw Vlaams Symfonieorkest, Robert Groslot, Walter Boeykens, The Puppini Sisters, Erroll Garner, Brede Big Band, David Campbell, Matt Catingub, Ola Kvernberg, Krisanthi Pappas, Nikki Yanofsky, Nick Baker, Marjorie Meinert ‎, Martin Taylor, Digby Fairweather and The First Class Sounds, Frank Amsallem, Bob Welch, Toni Tennille with The Matt Catingub Big Band, Mário Adnet, Vic Lewis, Walter Bishop, Jr., Jackie Cain and Roy Kral, Majken and Fjeldtetten, Tony Orlando, Moira Danis, Richard Dowling, Ruby Braff and Roger Kellaway, Tedi Marsh, Bing Crosby, Dick Schory's Percussion and Brass Ensemble, Janet Dacal, Leslie Uggams with Mitch Miller and the Sing Along Gang, Ken Nelson, Leslie Kendall and The Jump Daddies, Sammy Price and Doc Cheatham, Buddha Scheidegger - Mike Goetz, Ron Kaplan, Maxim Saury - Michel Crichton, Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grappelli, Roger Guerin Henri Chenuet, Jimmy Takeuchi and Teddy Wilson, Brent Watkins, Suzi Stern, Frank Vignola, The Harvard Krokodiloes, The Bassface Swing Trio, Eric Parkin, Wendell H. Mills II, D'Andrea, Max von Essen, Didier Lockwood, The Wabash Jazzmen, Bucky Pizzarelli - Johnny Frigo - Howard Alden - Michael Moore, Trijntje Oosterhuis with Amsterdam Sinfonietta and The Houdini's, Martin Spitznagel, Brian Holland and Danny Coots, Westwind Brass, Krystyna Durys, Louis Landon, Ralph Sutton with Cliff Leeman, Joe Pass, Tony Rizzi's Five Guitars, Marti Webb, Günter Noris, Francis Veri, The Sonny Stitt Quartet, Gene Dinovi's Generations Trio, Martha Miyake - Norio Maeda Trio and His Friends, Shreveport Rhythm, Martin Schrack Trio, Pinky Winters with Lou Levy and Monty Budwig, Steeve Laffont Trio with Costel Nitescu, Charlie Shavers, William Bolcom, Zoot Sims, Bud Noble, Linda Lavin, Maureen McGovern, Art Tatum Trio, Eiji Kitamura, Liberace, Cheryl Bentyne, Tony Bennett, Simon Schott, Yosuke Yamashita, Billy May and His Orchestra, The Johnny Mann Singers, Joanie Pallatto, Barbara Hannigan - Ludwig Orchestra, Quarteto Maogani, Olivia Byington and João Carlos Assis Brasil, Daniel Wayenberg, Amsterdam Saxophone Quartet, DGQ Duncan Galloway, Boston Gay Men's Chorus, Barbara Hendricks, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Judy Niemack, Lars Boye Jensen, Filipe Melo Trio, Tongångarne, Sheila Jordan and Harvie Swartz, Victor Arden-Phil Ohman and Their Orchestra with Frank Luther, David Matthews and John Scofield, Studio Players, Oscar Klein, Barbara Dennerlein, Charly Antolini, Das Ballaststofforchester, Barbara Cook, Brian Charette Trio, Dave Stryker, Stéphane Grappelli and The Diz Disley Trio, Judy Garland with Georgie Stoll and His Orchestra, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall with The Bill Charlap Trio, Flashback Quartet, Originální pražský synkopický orchestr, Emilio C´ceres Trio, Stephane Grappelli Trio, Stéphane Grappelli - Michel Petrucciani - George Mraz - Roy Haynes, Peggy Lee, Debi Sander Walker, Brazilian Tropical Orchestra, Rosenberg Trio with Tim Kliphuis, Hugo Diaz, George Cables, Wardell Gray, Sonny Criss, Stan Getz and Charlie Shavers, Liza Minnelli, Canadian Brass, Jazz avec l'Orchestre Henri Chaix, Barbra Streisand, The Broads, Teddy Wilson and His Piano, Denny Zeitlin, Jazzed to the Max, Bratislava Hot Serenaders, Trudy Desmond, Centerpiece with Joni Janak, Duo Campion-Vachon, Ethel Waters, The Fred Knapp Trio, The Residents, Pearl Bailey, The Scat Cats, The Buck Clarke Quintet, Guy Lafitte et Son Orchestre, Kim Hoorweg, The Killer and His Boogie Woogie Trio, Agathe Jazz Quartet, Fatty George and His Chicago Jazz Band, Homer and Jethro, Pierre Blanchard - Dorado Schmitt, Gordon Brisker Quintet, Stéphane Grappelli and His Hot Four with Django Rheinhardt, Glad, Flash Mob Jazz, Ran Blake, Uri Caine Ensemble, Marcus Lovett, Bob Brookmeyer and Bill Evans, Kid Ory and Red Allen, Veri and Jamanis, Don Shirley, Manos Wild, Santa Maria Jazz Band, Rossano Sportiello, Linzi Hateley, Jack Saunders and Orchestra Milva, Lydia Sabosto, Mark Murphy, Ralph Burns and His Orchestra, Joe Pass, Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson, Alessandro Galati, Hot Club de Norvé ge, Chihiro Yamanaka Trio, The Trowells, Sharon Kam, The London Symphony Orchestra, Gregor Bühl, Sid Phillips Trio, Lou Stein, Clockwork, Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Warne Marsh, Hampton Hawes, Joe Mondragon, Shelly Manne, Emilio Caceres Trio, Paul Jost, Jørgen Svare Jazz Quartet, The Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, Michael Coppola, Biré li Lagrène, André Ceccarelli, Chris Minh Doky, Chick Webb and His Little Chicks, Matt Herskowitz, The Butch Thompson Trio, Christof Sänger, Fred Hersch and Bill Frisell, René e Geyer, Spike Robinson, Jimmy Deuchar and Strings, Perry Beekman, Brad Terry, Trio Henri Chaix, Lyambiko, The Fairer Sax, Stefano Pastor, Eugen Cicero, Porteña Jazz Band, Ralph Sutton and Eddie Miller, Shannon and Keast, Felix Mendelssohn and His Hawaiian Serenaders, The Stefan Scaggiari Trio, Mobylettes, The David Leonhardt Trio, Stan McDonald, Jack Jezzro, Lowri Blake, Raphaël Faÿs, Raphaël Imbert, Sarah Vaughan, Hannah Svensson, Smell 3, Gene Kelly, The Billy Vaughn Singers, Big Band Ritmo Sinfonica Città Di Verona, Thelonious Moog, Maureen McGovern, Dave Shepherd Quintet, Don Ewell - Bob Greene, Gabriela Mazzeo, Oscar Levant, Morton Gould and His Orchestra, Art Van Damme Quintet, Tres Para El Jazz, Arnett Cobb, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Chuck Hedges and The Milwaukee Connection, The Eminent East Coast Dixie Stompers, Willie Nelson, Pete Fountain, Marilyn Moore, Ethel Merman, Erich Kunzel - Newton Wayland, Jack Jezzro with the Beegie Adair Trio, Arne Domnérus Quartet, The Ballyhooligans, John Hicks, Big Tiny Little, Christian Jacob, Paul Chambers, Fred Rich and His Orchestra, Rachael Beck and David Hobson, Jalopy Five, George Van Eps and Howard Alden, Caterina Valente und Silvio Francesco, George Shearing and The King's Singers, Kate Smith, John Pizzarelli, Naoki Suzuki and Eddie Higgins, Yonty Solomon, Jeffrey Chappell, Oscar Peterson, Irakli, Guy Van Duser, Alex Welsh, George Wright, Fats Waller, Emile Pandolfi, Embassy Players and Singers directed by Ken Jones, Joe Daniels and His Hot Shots, The Happenings, Anita Harris - Kim Harris, Sarah McKenzie, Ralph Sutton, Peanuts Hucko, Jack Lesberg, Cliff Leeman, The Jazzburgers, Hot Owls, The James Williams All Stars, Percy Faith and His Orchestra, Lena Horne, Jo Jones Trio, John Arpin, Mike Krstić Trio with Peter Erskine, Terry Blaine and Mark Shane, The Fred Hughes Trio, Suzanne Davis Quartet, Fats Jazz Band, Susannah McCorkle, Melinda Doolittle, Judy Butterfield, Francis Bay and the Boone City Blowers, The Marc Copland Quintet, Phil Woods and Franco D'Andrea, Bud Freeman Trio, VOCES8, Adrian Baker, Anthony Molinaro, Joe Sample, The Julian Bliss Septet, Johnny Nash, Patricia Racette, 360^o Guitar Duo, Jan Gelberman, Dave McKenna, Joe Temperley, Jazz Sisters, Beelzebubs, Mike Boone, Joe La Barbera, Jim De Julio, Paul Smith, Julia Shore and The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, Pat Flowers, Queen of the Trumpet Valaida with Swing Accompaniment, Milan Turkovic, Clelia Goldings, Richard Galler, Selim Aykal and Alex Turkovic, The Alexander Bühl Sextet, The Four Saints, The Ruby Braff and George Barnes Quartet, Swiss Dixie Stompers, Lennie Felix, Happy Wanderers Plus One, Manière des Bohé miens, Kiri Te Kanawa, John McGlinn and The New Princess Theater Orchestra, Stéphane Grappelli and McCoy Tyner, Paul Bisaccia, Amber Topaz, Greentown Jazz Band, Buddy DeFranco Quintet featuring Martin Taylor, Bubblin' Toorop Trio, Michael Holliday with The George Chisholm All Stars, Svend Asmussen Quartet, Christiane Noll, Terumasa Hino, Ethel Smith, David Jacobs, Melanie Marshall, Johnny Costa, Steve Barton and Angelika Milster, Brian Wilson, Alex Welsh and His Band, Rip Crystal, Sören Leyers and Mario Adler, Kevin Cole, Elaine A. Small, Deborah Silver with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Paris Washboard, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, Kevin Earley, Stephan Holstein, Robert Clary (LeBeau on Hogan's Hero with The John Rodby Trio, Hideo Shiraki, Lee Konitz and Franco D'Andrea, Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra, Johnny Van Derrick and Phil Bond, Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra, Bob Seeley, Meral Guneyman and Dick Hyman, André Watts, Randy Weston, Joe Daniels' Jazz Group, Ralph Sutton - Jay McShann - Milt Hinton - Gus Johnson, The John Wilson Orchestra with Kim Criswell, Christof Sänger, Norbert Eisner Quartett, Lé ah Kline, Judy Carmichael, David Syme, Faith Winthrop, Scat Man Crothers, Enzo Enzo, Warren Vache and Derek Watkins with The Brian Lemon Quartet, The Joe Venuti Blue Four, Joanna MacGregor, Eastern Brass Quintet, The Hal Otis Quintet, Laurindo Almeida, Erich Kunzel and the Rochester Pops, Dicky Wells and His Orchestra, André Previn with David Finck, The Louisiana Dandies Jazz Orchestra with Louis Crelier, Paul Dubois and The Sweet Substitutes, The Mitchell Ruff Duo, The Singers Unlimited, Bobby Darin, Graham Dalby and the Grahamophones, Lambert Wilson, Svend Asmussen Quartet, Bellavente Wind Quintet, Marilyn Michaels, Quintet Johnny Meyer, Al Gallodoro with The Beau Hunks, Laurie Beechman, and Ivar Anton Waagaard. [To return to the top of the list click here.]

And George's greatest work?

Well, some say Porgy and Bess. And among the songs that have been cut into singles - "I've Got Plenty of Nothing", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" - probably the most popular tune is "Summertime" which is the first song heard in the opening scene.

^♪ Summertime and the living is easy.

  Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high.^♩

And who has released the recordings? Well, there's (and again to skip this REALLY long list, click here) Yuzuru Sera, Marie Celeste, Drafi Deutscher and His Magics, David Swanson, Robert Maxwell with His Harp and Orchestra, Susan House, The Slades, Lanfranco Malaguti, Rebecca Spencer, Three Cats and a Fiddle, Gina Griffin, Chris Powell, Barley Wik, Ray Conniff and His Orchestra and Chorus, George Feyer, Max Collie Rhythm Aces, Scot Wisniewski, Carmen Monarcha, Jarek Śmietana, Ricardo Scales, Dylan Cernyw, Tom Collins Jazz Band, Peter Saltzman, Jackie Mittoo, Anne Brown, RS2J, Helen Jepson, Extempo, Lolo Gervais, Dami Im, J.R. Monterose Quartet, Betty Roché, Savannah Churchill and The Sentimentalists, Little Esther, Adam Swanson, Sweet Somethings, Jiří Stivín and Company Jazz Quartet, Minoru Muraoka, Kiyoshi Yamaya, Rolf Ericson Sextet, The Erika Jazz Trio, The Polite Jazz Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut, Featuring Anita Baker, Bob Gordon featuring Herbie Harper, Bobby Montez, Toshinori Kondo, Starlite Orchestra, Caleb's Cosmosis, Penny Lang, The George Maurer Group, Mari Kanemoto with Masaru Imada Trio, Jayme Marques, Hugo Diaz, The Drifters, Rossana Casale, Ali Keïta, Olivier Renne, Lulu Roman, The Herbie Harper Quintet, Bohuslän Big Band featuring Lew Soloff and Adam Nussbaum, Stanley Turrentine, George Kelly and Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans, Katy Mitchell, Nicki Parrott, 101 Strings, Mario Pezzotta e il suo Complesso Dixieland Arethusa, Alexia, Sasha Masakowski, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, Pearl Street Jazz Band, Richard Boone, Kenny Drew Trio, Hal Singer, Deb Bowman, Bob Brookmeyer, Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, Mari Nakamoto with Reggie Workman Trio, Brazilian Tropical Orchestra, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Brown, Harald Gundhus Quartet, Al Korvin, Ike Moriz, Freddie Hubbard, Daphne Hellman Quartet, Lucia, Tok Tok Tok with the NDR Pops Orchestra, Kim Prevost and Bill Solley, Clifford Scott, Prinzo and Betzi Winterstein, Takashi Mizuhashi and His Friends, Nicole Sasser, Alan Skidmore Quartet, Nueva Manteca, Melissa Boyce, Kevin Eubanks - Stanley Jordan, John Arpin, Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grappelli, Steven C., Alessandro Galati, Susie Tallman, Tony Scott, Romano Mussolini, The Residents, Blaine Sprouse, Don Cavalli, Jill Salkin, Clara Rockmore, Nadia Reisenberg, Art Hodes, The New Stan Getz Quartet, The InCrowd, Magnum Band, Gayle Ritt, The String-A-Longs, Eddie C. Campbell, The Quartette Trés Bien, Mary Carewe, Nick Baker, Dickie Loader and The Blue Jeans, Claude Allaire, Chuck Israels and Robert Kaddouch, The Accelerators, The Ventures, John Handy with Class, Gigi Gryce Quartet featuring Richard Williams, Regina Mester Trio, Frank Amsallem, J.B. Hutto and The New Hawks, Spanky Wilson, Maddocks-Huxley Reeds United, Len Mercer, Kari Gaffney, Amber Leigh Irish, Nuccia Focile and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Maurizio Benini, George Masso Allstars, Nikki Renée Daniels, Gene Harris Quartet with Special Guest Frank Wess, Hans Koller New Jazz Stars, Jackie Edwards, The Wiyos, Patrick A'Hearn, Karen Aoki, Carsten Dahl - Jesper Bodilsen - Ed Thigpen, Viktor Lazlo, The Johnny Griffin Quartet, Pascal Schumacher Quartet, Georges Jouvin, Jesse Belvin, The Malibus, Marty Robbins, Rick Nelson, The Buckinghams, Little Fritz and His Friends, Anca Parghel, Kitty Cleveland, Gogi Grant, Trijntje Oosterhuis with Amsterdam Sinfonietta and The Houdini's, Rita Reys, Rogier van Otterloo, Bross Townsend, Kimiko Itoh, Magda Piskorczyk, Dave Ellis, Doc DeHaven, Harold Harris, Cyril Jazz Band, Orquesta Maravella, Peter Nordahl Trio, Richard Shelton, Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna, Bill Jennings, Olivia Byington and João Carlos Assis Brasil, Tomsits Ensemble, Quartet Zbigniew Namyslowski, K. J. Denhert, Frontier Theory, Mae Barnes, Simon Schott, The Phil Woods Quintet, Max Neissendorfer Trio, Klaus Ignatzek, The New Ragtime Band, Rob Madna Trio, Jaki Graham, Bjarne Rostvold Trio, Ana Gazzola, Big Time Sarah and The BTS Express, Marcia Rutledge, Wayne Hancock, The Allen Toussaint Orchestra, Gilbert Rost, Cida Moreira, Takehiro Honda, WorldSong, Helen Humes, George Cables, Lanny Cordola, Ronnie Mathews, The Great Jazz Trio, Janet Villas, Trio Karel Boehlee, Erich Nussbaum, B.B. Boris, Manu Dibango, Peggy Lee with Buddy Cole's Four of a Kind, Jeanne Lee, Ran Blake, The Houdini's and Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam, Jackie De Shannon, Dana Gonzales, Laura Cheadle, Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers, Carmen McRae, Sylvester, Jefferson Lincoln, The Golden Gate Quartet, Carol Sloane, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Mary Roos, Katrine Madsen with Bohuslän Big Band, Kaz Lux - John Schuursma, Little G, Cæcilie Norby, Marty Gold and His Orchestra, Kim in the Middle, Renata Friederich, Lou Donaldson, Georgetown University Phantoms, Althea René, Sonia Santos e Pablo Medina, Frank Denke, Kid Thomas and His Algiers Stompers, The Hoods, Harvey Reid, The No-Gap Generation Jazz Band, George Garzone, Paolo Fresu, Lovelace Watkins, Ted Rosenthal Trio, Marty Elkins - Dave McKenna, Boom Big Band conducted by Robert Verelst, Wendi Maxwell, Butch Miles, Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra, Stan Whitmire, Vic Lewis and His Orchestra, Allison Blackwell and Mary Bridget Davies, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, Kenny G with George Benson, Martin Denny, Whitney Phoenix, Eiji Nakayama, The Cavemen, Buddy Tate, Ray Heatherton with Orchestra, Dave Liebman - John Stowell, The Manhattan Project, Pat Hervey, Ildar Kazakhanov, Alexei Kuznetsov, Al Green, Patricia Barber, Carolyn Hester, Audra McDonald - New York Philharmonic, Lisa Vroman, The Sessions Quartet, Lulee Fisher, Janice Friedman Trio, Marti Webb, Paul Capsis, Martin Schrack Trio, Lauren Kilgore, Nils-Bertil Dahlander Quartet, Molly Johnson, Chris Swansen, Stéphane Grappelli - McCoy Tyner, Danny Wright, Lucie Bílá, Bootjacks, Schweigaard Swingende, Inge Brandenburg, Gösta Theselius - Expressens Elitorkester, Uriel, Felicia Sanders, Dee-Dee, Barry and The Movements, Eileen Farrell, George Trovillo, The Hesitations, Miles Davis, Yuki Murakami, Axel Wolf - Hugo Siegmeth, 360^o Guitar Duo, Big Lu Valeny y Los Muchachos, Jeanne Arland Peterson, Temika Moore, Milan Turkovic, Clelia Goldings, Richard Galler and Selim Aykal, Trish Ramsten, Al Ferguson, Leonid Hambro, Gershon Kingsley, The Shelly Manne Quintet and Big Band, Dick Ruedebusch, John Klemmer, Percy Faith and His Orchestra, Letizia Brugnoli, Michael Sagmeister - Christoph Spendel, Lana Bittencourt, Stony, Anita Dobson, Alejandro Moro, Elizabeth Marvelly, Roger Guerin Henri Chenuet, Mundell Lowe and His All Stars, Julio Frade, Bruno Tettamanti, Albert Ayler, The Four Freshmen, Trevor Richards New Orleans Trio, Izzy Chait, Tape Five, Casper Reardon, His Harp and His Orchestra, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Gatemouth Brown, Rusty Wright Blues, Joanie Sommers, Angelique Beauvence, Sil Austin, Joe Morello Sextet, Soul Jazz Unit, The Wailers, Bill De Arango, Jazztrack featuring Céline Berman, Mark Biggs, The Bar-Room Buzzards, Aki Yashiro, Mike Clark With Billy Childs and Chris Potter, Fried Pride, Jazzamor, Toshiyuki Miyama and New Herd, Martial Solal, Gary Peacock, Paul Motian, Pat Yankee, Fenix Jazz Band, Kevin McNeal, Baby Consuelo, George Mraz in Duet with Roland Hanna, Hanna Banaszak, Danny Wright, Lars Gullin with Gösta Theselius and His Orchestra, Kunihiko Sugano, Calvin Johnson Jr., The Fabulous Chambers Brothers, Miles and Quincy, Mocean Worker, Brian Conley, Captain Bad, Esmond Selwyn, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Günther Neefs, Jim Murple Memorial, Red Holloway and Company, Soriba Kouyaté, Carolina Zingler and Nuvens, Tony Scott, Stanisław Sojka, Gary Burton, Nobuo Hara and His Sharps and Flats, Le Steel-Band de la Trinidad, Superblue, Jimmy McCracklin, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Suzy Bogguss, Sheila Landis, Allen Hoist, Malene Mortensen, Malena Ernman, Grooveyard, Alexis Gershwin with the Gershwin Singers and Orchestra, One G Plus Three, Jan Savitt and His Orchestra, Stefania Rava, Charlotte Church, Baron, Spiegel Wilcox and His Slidemen, Barney Kessel Quartet, The Sunjet Serenaders Steelband, David Osborne, Barbara Casini - Renato Sellani, Jay Messer Quintet, Keath Barrie, Clara Ward, George Greeley, Sid Kučera Revival Jazz Band, Gianni Basso Big Band, Eddie Jefferson, Suzuki Shoji and The Rhythm Aces, Frederick Hodges, The Swingle Singers, West End Trio, Royale Operetta Singers and Orchestra, Diane Shaw, Stefan Nicolaï, Karen, David Clayton-Thomas, The Hi Hats, Mister Bill Wallys, The Fawkes-Turner Sextet, Sharon Azrieli, Jack Jones, P. J. Parker, Ligia Piro, Danielle Westphal, Le Grand Orchestre du Splendid, Charlie Faye, Genie Grant, Gabor Szabo, Marni Nixon, Lincoln Mayorga, Mats Bergström, Fiona Clifton-Welker, Allen Vizzutti - Jeff Tyzik with The National Repertory Orchestra, Craig Ogden, Jacques Kerrien, The Righteous Brothers, The Greatest Swing Band in the World, Alan Stratford Johns, Giancarlo Mazzù, Luciano Troja, The Honey Dreamers with the Elliot Lawrence Band, The Buddy DeFranco - Tommy Gumina Quartet, Lajos Dudas, Larry Adler Quartet, Joe Newman, Ove Lind Quintet featuring Lars Estrand, Benjamin B., Kristjana Stefáns, Larry Coryell, Francesco Cafiso and Strings, The Walter Bishop Jr. Group, El Vate, Ekseption, Lady Kim, Joe Pass featuring Clare Fischer, James Moody, Barbara Hendricks, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Ronnie Aldrich, Tina Malia, André Previn, Chris Nordman Trio, Esther Satterfield, Glenn Derringer at the Wurlitzer Organ, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra - Dave Liebman, Eddie Heywood, Todd Sparks, The Tom Peron Bud Spangler Quartet - Special Guest Jessica Williams, Dick Hyman and Roger Kellaway, Dino Vera, Jerry Kruger and Her Orchestra, David Newman, Michal Urbaniak Jazz Trio, Ernestine Anderson, Cat Anderson and the Ellington All Stars, Jeremy Weinglass, The Staccatos, Saxensemble, Kenji Hino, Annie Moses Band, Kaylé Brecher, Derek Smith Trio, Counterparts, Ron Carter, Vanessa Calcagno, Joe Harriott Jazz Quartet, Blind John Davis, Dave Liebman, Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, Sigmund Groven, Fred Ford, Sam Cooke (Bumps Blackwell Orchestra), Janet Tenaj with the Sven Anderson Ensemble, Charles Neville and Diversity, Laura Theodore, The Matadors, Bob Scobey's Band, Herbie Mann, Martina Freytag, Philippe Lejeune with Eddie Johnson, Gerard Fremaux, John C. Whitfield, Ethan Uslan, Carmen Gomes Inc., Tedi Marsh, Bega Blues Band, The Beau-Marks, Ranee Lee, Harri Stojka, Cuarteto Lopez Fürst, Emiko Mizoguchi Group, Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins, George Vukán and His Korg, The Band of The Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Joe Venuti and Tony Romano, Jan Walravens, Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bertil Spåmans kör and orkester, Lou Stein, Tony Lakatos - Frankfurt Radio Bigband, Ewa Bem, Earl Bostic, Satoru Oda - Akira Miyazawa, Heinz v. Hermann Jazz Ahead, Jane Drake, Lesley Olsher, Gus Backus, Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, featuring Jane Powell and The Pied Pipers, Annie Lennox, The Page 7, Ayumi Koketsu, Antigua Jazz Band, Opus Cuatro y Sandra Mihanovich, Boyd Raeburn and His Orchestra featuring Johnny Bothwell, Glennis Houston, Allen Shadd, Joe Sealy Trio, Peach Stealing Monkeys, Jascha Heifetz, Bengt Hallberg, Oscar Pettiford, The Stuart Hemingway Trio + 1, Emily Singleton, Taryn Szpilman, Diahann Carroll and The Andre Previn Trio, The Pair, Denise Pelley, John Fahey, Jimmy Gourley and Barney Wilen, Sharon Kam, London Symphony Orchestra, Gregor Bühl, Maureen Washington, Maddy Winer and Vince Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass, Trumpet Summit, Lainie Kazan, Matthew Shipp Duo with William Parker, Shirley Scott, Stephy Haik, Regis Huby, Kurt Rosenwinkel - Michael Kanan, Joe Martin and Tim Pleasant, Chet Baker Quartet, Jimmy Ricks, Eric Michael Krop - Erica von Kleist, Johnny Hammond, Scat, Old Metropolitan Jazz Band, Chris Bennett, Jeane Manson, The Gentlemen of St John's, Jonathan Kreisberg, The Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra, Jean Bonal, Noel Freidline Trio, featuring Renée Dickerson, Ari Ann Wire, Beata Pater, Eugene Rousseau, Hans Graf, Judy Akin, Four Um, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water, Renato Falerni, Sherri Conner, Jim Beebe and His Chicago All Stars, Sharon Marie, Michael Allen Harrison and Julianne R. Johnson, The Noblemen, Deborah Myers, Toussaint McCall, The Fairer Sax, Doc Watson, Caetano Veloso, Herbie Mann with The Wes Ilcken Trio, Leila Josefowicz, Freddy Quinn, Sonny Criss and Modern Jazz, Thomas Fink Trio featuring Sandy Lomax, Dolly Dawn, Intrioduction, Caroline Waters, Ron McCroby, Deni Hines and James Morrison, Cedar Walton, David Williams, Billy Higgins, Masabumi Kikuchi, Debbie Gifford, The Paul Spencer Band, Brenda Carol, Abbie Mitchell, Moacyr Silva e Seu Conjunto, Blue Avengers, Lennie Felix, Junia Walker, The Rocketeers, Jean-Luc Ponty, Daniel Humair, Eddy Louiss, Wayne Goins featuring Dave "Elmo" Bailey, Bogna Sokorska, Lasse Lindgren Constellations, Ernie Krivda and Swing City, Micheline Dax, Curfew, Dick Schory's Percussion Pops Orchestra, Rick Matle and Sheila Landis, Vanessa-Mae, Bo Gumbos, Seldon Powell, Art Blakey, Michelle Walker, Hazel O'Connor, Clare Hirst, Sarah Fisher, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Ralph Burns and His Orchestra, Steven Gellman, Olivia Newton John, The Johnny Griffith Trio, Carlos and The Bandidos, Nyle Frank, Chris Botti featuring David Foster, The Oscar Peterson Trio, Kahu Pineaha, Funky Company, Cisco Herzhaft, The Astronauts, Sefika Kutuler, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Frances Faye, Royce Campbell, Lora Szafran, Kristen J. Lloyd, Tommi and Hombre, Susannah McCorkle, Maria Jacobs, Dirk Damonte, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Bombando na Náite, Rick Wakeman, Chick and Hiromi, Peter Almqvist Trio, Keith Emerson, Osdalgia, Bert Weedon and His Music for Dancing, Larkster Quartet, Cal Tjader Quartet, The Shake Spears, Bellavente Wind Quintet, The Gino Marinello Orchestra, Matt Catingub, Gypsy Wind, Gary Karr, Vera Lynn, Enrique Villegas, Ellen and Bernd Marquart Quartet - Jazzlife, John Rossbach and Chestnut Grove, Kurt Buschmann, Trina Hamlin, George Gruntz, David Essex, Flip Phillips, Dell Staton, Georgia Brown, John Coltrane, Henry "Hot Lips" Levine, Benjamin Herman, Katie and Maggie Noonan, Tony Scott and The Indonesian All Stars, Lyambiko, Nika Rejto, Joe Venuti, The Gil Mellé Quartet, Laurent Chavoit, Robert Kaddouch, Dirk K, The Phil Hopkins Orchestra, Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra, Lyn Roman, Marcus Miller, Paul McCartney, Jake Concepcion, Juan Amalbert's Latin Jazz Quintet, Jack Jezzro with the Beegie Adair Trio, Milt Hinton, MFfSB, Brodsky Quartet, Yoshiaki Miyanoue, Mamoru Inagaki ‎, Klaus Wunderlich, Carol Kidd, The Angels, Rob Agerbeek Trio, Eddy Duchin, Oscar Peterson and Jon Faddis, Jay Beckenstein, Ron Merritt, Helen Merrill, Smell 3, Little Tempo, Lia Giorgi, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Mark Murphy, Dorian Ford, Waso, McSingers, Stan Getz, Shelly Manne, Leroy Vinnegar, Conte Candoli, Lou Levy, Mishka Adams, Eivør Pálsdóttir, Nelson Williams, Bruno Angelini, Los Muchachos Locos, Mike Carr Tony Crombie Duo, Matthew Cook, Tenors Un Limited, The Roy Wiegand Big Band, Asmund Bjørken, Eric Johnson and His Orchestra, The Randy Weston Trio, Maxim Saury, Hazel O'Connor, The Harvard Krokodiloes, Big Jay McNeely and The Rocket 88s, Lætitia Sadier, Johnny Hodges and His Strings, Andrea Motis and Joan Chamorro Quintet featuring Scott Hamilton, Millicent Wood, Gerry and The Pacemakers, B.B. Seaton, Eddie Calvert, Liberace, Licia Fox, Yasmin, Ted Heath and His Music, Slim Richey's Jazz Grass, Elvin Jones and Richard Davis, Jeri Brown, Alsterwasser Swing Compagnie, The Jive Kings with Measha Brüggergosman, Laurent De Wilde, Carl Doy, Swans Way, The 3 Sounds, Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, Magic Bubble, Steve Thompson, Santo and Johnny, Caballero Reynaldo, Serge Delaite and Tony Petrucciani, Carol Sloane, The Tornadoes, Sonny and Cher, Tito Rodriguez and His Orchestra, Margaret Tynes, Gil Evans, Friend 'n Fellow, Lana Del Rey, The Contrasts, Beat Kaestli, Maureen McGovern, Kate Schutt, The Maynard Ferguson Sextet, Jessica Young, Tony Crombie, Sarah Harmer and Jason Euringer, Elmar Brass Trio, Cheryl Bentyne, Janine Gilbert-Carter, Champian Fulton, Joja Wendt featuring Otto Waalkes, Βίκυ, Siiri, Boris Björn Bagger and the International Acoustic Band, Lena Junoff, Joe Venuti with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, James Rivers, CharlElie Couture, Scott Robinson and Emil Viklicky Trio, Spiral 3, James Last, Jazz Studio Orchestra, Sherry Williams with The John Rodby Trio, Storyville Stompers, Charles Mingus with Hampton Hawes and Danny Richmond, Gigliola Negri - Giorgio Gaslini ‎, Mr. Review, Wout, Angela Scappatura, Over the Bridge, Bill Ramsey and Juraj Galan, Len Barnard, Giacomo Gates, Cantillation, Deep-Dive-Corp., Alden David and Michael James, Craig Pomranz, Lori Carsillo, European Jazz Trio, Spike Robinson, Strings arranged and conducted by Jimmy Deuchar, Dan Perz, Piccadilly Six, Brenda Holloway, Susana Baca, Pierre Dumont, Link Protrudi and The Jaymen, Jimmie Rodgers, Steven Pasquale, Earl Grant, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Phil Mason, Eric Madis, The Flying Pickets, Sonny Criss with Georges Arvanitas Trio, Perry Wood, Yolo Mambo, Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton, Giovanni Hidalgo, Carl H. Hall, Carl Perkins, Ray Nance, Cat Anderson and the Ellington Alumni, Ove Engström och Ulla Roxby, Rusty Hudelson, Charles Earland with Najee, The Mystic Moods Orchestra, Patty Waters, The Red Bar Jazz Band, Ernestine Holmes, Thomas Fonnesbæk featuring Lars Jansson - Paul Svanberg, Bob Walsh, Courtney Pine, Clea Bradford, The Moon Loungers, David Grisman, Stan Getz with Jan Johansson, Eddie Higgins Trio, Lena Horne, David Rose and His Orchestra, Ed Thigpen, Doc Watson and David Grisman, Lionel Hampton, Big Country, Jay McShann, Martha Burks, Uptown String Quartet, Barry Manilow with Diane Schuur and Stan Getz, Jacques Dieval, Tiger Okoshi, Joe and Eddie, Rostal and Schaefer, Kevin Gibbs and Friends, Beegie Adair, Roger Williams - Strings and Orchestra directed by Glenn Osser, Doc and Merle Watson, Anna Maria Mendieta, Christian Anders, Dorothy Ashby, Lesley Garrett, Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Ivor Bolton, Miranda Russell, Don Angle, The Jane Miller Group, Jill Scott and George Benson, Don Stiernberg and John Carlini, Fantasia, Georgia Whiting, The Uptown Trio, Augusto Martelli, Ruth Brown, Yasuko Agawa, Reuben Wilson, The Jacobs Brothers, Ulf Wakenius, Christiane Noll and Chorus, E. Volontè, R. Sellani, G. Azzolini, L. Bionda, Howlin' Wilf and The Vee-Jays, Dim Kesber and Friends, Duck Baker, Michael Musillami, Steve Siu, Butch Lacy, Bogdan Hołownia ‎Trio, Eugenio Colombo, Sammy, Richard Hayman and His Orchestra, Teddy Edwards Quartet, The Mac Chrupcala Trio featuring Bernard Purdie and Jim Cammack, The Clayton Brothers, Lawrence Welk - Pete Fountain, Rebecca Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Joe Thayer, Giovanni Maier, Peter Gabriel, Michael Zanabili, Thais Clark and Her Palm Court Serenaders, The Twilight Singers, Marjorie McCoy, Anabel and The Rock-A-Bells, Steve Lane's Famous Southern Stompers, Janis Joplin, David Troy, Little Beaver, The O'Neill Brothers, The Ganelin Trio, Mark Murphy with the Louis Vandyke Trio, Billy Taylor, La Tanya Hall, Sue Bell, The Wailin' Jennys, Jamaican Reggae Cuts, Pat Bowie with Charles McPherson, Mongo Santamaría, Johnny Thompson, Jerry Grillo, Maxim Saury - Michel Crichton, Orchestra under the direction of Jack Saunders, Paul Brett, Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Roger Webb Trio, Wataru Hamasaki meets Akane Matsumoto Trio "Big Catch", Jim Tisdall, Marty Paich, Edmundo Ros, Big Brother and The Holding Company, Urban Dogs, Randy Sandke, Hildegunn Gjedrem, Hugo Siegmeth, Canen, Karen Souza, Sidney Bechet, Claude Luter et son orchestre, Emiko Kai, Jack Wood and John Stowell, Bröderna Volt, Ann Sothern, Eddie Henderson Quintet, Bonnie Koloc, Masumi Ormandy, Jay-Ray and Gee, Vic Juris, Giuseppe Continenza, Chantal Chamberland, Lena Maria, Helge Schneider and Hardcore, Andy LaVerne Quartet, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood, Mark Weinstein, Rodney Jones, Sunny Ozuna, John Lewis, Kenny Drew Jr., Martin Ermen, Sarah Jane McMahon, Mort Weiss, Randy Sabien, Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Yosuke Yamashita, Klaus Kreuzeder and Willi Herzinger, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Houston Person, Don Wilner, Jacintha, Anthony Molinaro, Eugene Park, Gare du Nord, Nonsequitur, Debbie Lesser, Monk Montgomery, Wes Montgomery and Buddy Montgomery, Trio Cantabile, Tea Rose Duo, Willis and Von, UB40, Calmus Ensemble, Sarah Shea, Swing Cats, Greg Osby, Minoru Muraoka, The Brothers Four, Jamaica Soundsystem, Soprano Meets Clarinet, Lucienne Renaudin Vary, Talisha Karrer, Will Taylor and Strings Attached, Kellye Gray Three, Eugen Cicero, Bill Harris, Doc Evans and His Band, Terry Lightfoot, Kenny Drew Trio, Mildred Bailey, Pat Braxton, Kenny Davern, Carlos Johnson, Billy Branch, George Shearing, Lara Saint Paul, Aya Makino, John Fahey, Jackie and Roy, The Orobians, Jørn Elniff - Erik Moseholm, Finn Savery, An American Underdog, Johnny Gilbert Trio, Christopher Peacock, Smoma, The Doors, Luciano Mosetti and Anders Färdal with Friends, Lils Mackintosh, Gene Vincent with The Blue Caps, Frösöflickorna, Melinda Stanford, Booker T. and The M.G.'s, The Bechet Legacy - Bob Wilber - Glenn Zottola, Bobby Womack and The Roots, Barry Crocker - Tony Hatch Orchestra, Jack Jones, The Flames, Lynn Hope, Lloyd Clarke, Sweet Baby J'ai, Jimmy Bruno, Joe Beck, The Rokes, Severino Gazzelloni, The James Sanders Trio, Emile Pandolfi, Susan Joy, David Balph, Donald Harrison with Mulgrew Miller, Christian Scott and Others, Bill Evans, Hank Jacobs, Simone Waddell, Marja Kauppi ja SBC-studio-orkesteri, Stephan Abel, Steelasophical, The Dave Wilson Quartet, Frank Cordell and His Orchestra, Atsuko Hashimoto Organ Trio featuring Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods - Franco D'Andrea, Dave "Baby" Cortez, Brian Wilson, The Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort, Gary Schnitzer, Richie Cole, Herb Pomeroy - Donna Byrne, Deanna Reuben, Sarah McKenzie, Gregg Stafford with Big Bill Bissonnette, Paul Boehmke, Roberta Hunt, Emil Mark, Colin Bray, Dennis Elder, Brass Fever, André Ceccarelli Trio, Bartleby and The Untouchables, Joe Augustine, Jeff Midkiff, The Heights of Grass, Keiko Lee, Ronnie Cuber, Earl Hines, Dennis DeYoung, The Cyclones, Chris Connor, Pirjo Hirvonen, Geo Daly, Red Garland, Tal Farlow, The Five of Diamonds, Georges Arvanitas Trio, Kathleen Battle - Margo Garrett, Ted Curson, Ethel Waters, Brian Evans, Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra, Jack DeJohnette, Brainbox, Allen Austin-Bishop, Brian May and The A.B.C. Melbourne Show Band, Peters Drury Trio, Christian Rannenberg, "Detroit" Gary Wiggins, Paul Bley, Gil McKinney, Emily Saxe, Jeffrey Chappell, Ruthie Henshall, Mikesch van Grümmer, Lonnie Johnson, C-M Carlsson, Groove Society, Rufus Zuphall, Bud Shank, Sandra Cross Meets Alan Weekes, Leo Maiberger Quartet, Jacqui Naylor, Christine Sullivan, The Jimi Vincent Band, Buster Williams Quintet, Brenda Wilson (Wagram Lounge Artists), Vi Redd, Lemongrass, Rick Stepton Quartet, The Electras, Lee Konitz and Mario Rusca, Angelina, John Schroeder and Orchestra, The Phil Morrison Trio, The Harvard Din and Tonics, Ellen Pelmas och Folkskoleseminariet Jönköping, Brian Bromberg, Bobby Solo and Silvia, Mobylettes, Stéphane Grappelli and The Diz Disley Trio, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, Essra Mohawk, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, The Blue Velvets, Nicoletta, Melba Moore, Anna Torres, Ena Baga, The George Benson Quartet, Howard Armstrong, The Feminine Complex, Count Basie, The Denise Lawrence Band featuring John Hallam ‎, Gordon Webster, The Swinging Swedes, Merl Saunders with His Funky Friends, Nobuo Hara and His Sharps and Flats, Oliver Nelson, Meier's Clan, Emily Haddad, Leesila Dawkins, Society of Seven, Alan Barnes and David Newton, Art Blakey Quartet, Joachim Kühn New Trio, Amandah Jantzen, Holly Hofmann with Ron Satterfield, Harry James and His Musicmakers, Claude Colombier - The New York Concert Orchestra, Vincent Herring, Dinah Washington, Eric Alexander Quartet, Guido Manusardi, Adam Makowicz, Laura Underwood, Hozan Yamamoto, Franz Halász, Hacke Björksten Corporation, Lenny Breau and Dave Young, Andrei Kitaev, Bill Douglass, The Platters, Al Gallodoro, Fausto Papetti, L.A.4, Ciro Fogliatta and The Blues Makers, Rita Reys and The Pim Jacobs Trio, Wolfgang Dauner, Denis Solee with the Beegie Adair Trio and the Jeff Steinberg Orchestra, The Zombies, Tony and The Initials, David Ian featuring Talitha Walters-Wulfing, t Heidebloempje, Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, The Hysterical Society, Eddy Louiss, featuring Jimmy Gourley, Guy Pedersen, Kenny Clarke, Clark Terry and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Peter Roberts, Soprano Cornet, Yorkshire Building Society Band conducted by Professor David King, Gypsy Mania, Monica Zetterlund, Carli Tornehave, Sir Roland Hanna Quartet, Bobby Hutcherson, The Harvard Opportunes, Roy Meriwether, Prudence Johnson, The Cat and Owl, Kristin Wilson, Jeanne Scherkenbach, Geyster, Emilia Zamuner - Massimo Moriconi Duet, Basily Boys, The Deejays, Felicity Lott, Graham Johnson, Sweet 'n' Jazzy, David Weiss with Members of the Los Angeles Philarmonic, Horace Parlan, Herman van Veen, John Scofield and Pat Metheny, Xavier Thollard Trio, Hanna Elmquist, Ranee Lee, Toni Brown, Gustav Lundgren, Robin Nolan Swing Quartet, The Afro-Blues Quintet Plus One, Niki and Ed, Mal Waldron/Danila Satragno, Mike Auldridge, Tres Para El Jazz, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Don Byas, Marion Montgomery, Jack La Forge, Robin Hackett, Papa John DeFrancesco, Marcus Nance, Art Johnson - Frédéric Alarie, Masato Imazu, Marvin Peterson and The Soulmasters, Sheiks, Ian Cooper, The Chantels with Sammy Lowe Orch., Joe Diorio, Bobby Hutcherson - George Cables - Herbie Lewis - Philly Joe Jones, Michael Moore Trio, John Harrelson, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, Jane Ira Bloom, Dennis Hawk, Good Morning Blues, Billy Daniels, Jonathan Antoine, Marica Hiraga, Morris Lane with His Combo, Phillip Manuel, Derek Smith and Venus, Jordi Rabascall 12 to 12 Quartet, Paul Horn, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Jack van Poll with the Orchestra of Etienne Verschueren, Edú da Gaita, Eric Kloss, Sam and Herman Hertz, Teddy Wilson and His Trio, The Magni Wentzel Sextet, Tetsu Ogawa Quartet, Jürgen Seefelder, Thomas Stabenow, Sam Marowitz with Charles Albertine's Orchestra, The Trumpets of Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie and Harry Edison, Doug Strock, Marcus Roberts, Leddy Wessel Quartet, Francie Zucco, Jimmy Smith and Lou Donaldson, Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, Mark Maxwell, Amanda Kamara, The French Impressionists, Hilary Bell, Edmund Hockridge, Kathleen Ryan, Jasmine Tommaso, Brad Rabuchin, Deborah Henson-Conant, Franco Ambrosetti and Friends, Hank Ballard, Elek Bacsik, Steve Wilkerson, Samuel Quinto Trio, Ben James, Aaron Bridgers, Hot Wire, Carolyn Leonhart, Gene Meyers, Jim Carter, Deborah Liles, Piet Noordijk Quartet, The Kirkintilloch Band, Frank Renton, Robert LaFond, Leny Eversong with Orchestra directed by Neal Hefti, Mark Masters Ensemble, Stéphane Grappelly et son Grand Orchestre á Cordes, Anne Ducros, Ray Brown, John Clayton, Christian McBride, Deborah Franciose, Hal Mooney, Booker Pittman, Tutti Baê and Liliana Bollos, Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye, Morton Gould and String Choir, Love Sculpture, Yuya Uchida and The Flowers, Saunders King Rhythm, Von Freeman's New Apartment Lounge Quartet, Nicolas Montier with Saxomania, Katia Labèque and Joey DeFrancesco, Wolfgang Haffner, Jan Lundgren, Christopher Dell, Dan Berglund, Dusko Goykovich, Jukka Perko, Willie Akins, Antoine Hervé, Charles Wood, Richard Hayman and His Symphony Orchestra, Per Nielsen - Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Wess and The Airedales, Bucky Bea, Mike Aiken, Jimmy Ponder, John Hicks, Don Braden, Dwayne Dolphin, Cecil Brooks III, Armand Van Helden, Ernie Shelby, Bryan Corbett, Brass Band Mg Rickenbach, Wes Montgomery, Mat Mathews, Landesjugendjazzorchester Schleswig-Holstein, Eddie Layton, Norman Treigle, Fernando Marco, Peter Hand Big Band, Jason Rebello, The Mary Kaye Trio, Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Bill Potts Big Band, Daisy Castro, The Blue Echoes, The House Jacks, Leon Dorsey, Johnny Farnham, Rosa King and Upside Down, Tall Jazz, George Rhodes, The Front Porch String Band, Kye Marshall Trio, Arvell Shaw and the Louis Armstrong Legacy Band, Melanie Marshall, Eliane Salek, Patricia Kaas, Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra, Zoe Mace, Scary Pockets with Olivia Kuper Harris, Rob McConnell Tentet, Herbie Spanier, Gioconda Cilio, Helen Casabona, Jerry Garcia - David Grisman - Tony Rice, Mikey Jr, Nicole Henry, Arni Egilsson, Ray Brown, Pete Jolly, Jimmie Smith, Randy Rayment Quintet, Bill Howland, Peanuts Hucko, Randy Sandke, Al Grey, John Bunch Jr., Jack Lesberg, Jake Hanna, Pete Candoli, Jimmy Amadie, Hank Marvin, Robert Goulet - Arr. and cond. by Don Costa, P!nk, Marshall Vente/Project Nine, Dixie Gunworks, Joe Sullivan, Willie Nelson, The Legends, The Charles Bell Trio, Bobby Carcassés, Chet Atkins, Shirley Horn, Junior Mance - Martin Rivera, Georgie Auld, The Junior Mance Trio, Blue Valentine, Sidney Bechet Quintet, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, The King's Singers, The Greg Tivis Trio featuring Kelsey Taylor, Clairdee, Corben Simpson, Dot Wilder, Mike Strickland, Lars Boye Jensen, Jerry Gonzalez and The Fort Apache Band, Cantabile, Joe Pass, Denise King, Michel and Tony Petrucciani, Vince Taylor et le Bobby Clark's Noise, Cheryl Porter Group, Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet, Janet Macklin, Tadao Hayashi Harp Trio, Bronn and Katherine Journey, Brandon Fields with the Gina Kronstadt Strings, James Byron, Renee Olstead, Shirley Crabbe, Dakota Staton, New York Unit, Sylvie Mora, Arrangement and Orchestra conducted by Russell Garcia, João Lencastre's Communion, Michael Allen Harrison, Savoy Jazzmen, Sandi Patty and Kathy Troccoli, Sumiko Yoseyama, Greg Hatza with Eric Gale and Grady Tate, The Embers Quintet, Jill Jack, Florence K., Kim Nalley, Howard McGhee, Rhubumba, Poliskören Stockholm, The Bonnevilles, Cindy Horstman and Friends, Anita Ellis with Ellis Larkins, Peter Asplund Quartet, Stereophonics, Guy Lafitte, Ladislav Habart se svým orchestrem, Paul Lamb and The King Snakes, Morcheeba and Hubert Laws, Ron Kaplan, Eva Pilarová, Tony Rice and John Carlini, Rebecca Newman, Javon Jackson, The Cedar Walton - Hank Mobley Quintet, Luis Arcaraz and His Orchestra, New York Trio and Ken Peplowski, Sarah Connor, Georges Arvanitas Trio, Jayne Manning, Gustav Brom, Martin Lass, Gordon MacRae, Eddy Louiss, Michel Petrucciani, Duo Campion-Vachon, The David Leonhardt Jazz Group, Grace Griffith, Lloyd Price, Jorge Lopez Ruiz, Salena Jones, Ivanow Jazz Group, Carrie Hope Fletcher with Bob Fletcher, The Eddie Thomas Singers, Maya Beiser, Stevie Holland, Problem Child, The Cat's Pajamas Vocal Band, Bobby Caldwell, Royal Manchester Ballroom Orchestra and Singers, Nikki Loney, Ruth Nabal, Joe Diorio, Riccardo Del Fra, Patchworks, Roy Richards, The Kelly Family, Billy Eckstine, Benny Carter, Stefon Harris and Blackout, Diane Van Deurzen and Lisa Otey, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell, Grady Tate, Dan Knight and The Don Blew Trio, Shelly Manne and His Men, Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra, Eels, Oliver Jones, Fay Claassen and Trio Peter Beets, Henghel Gualdi, Al Haig, Edmundo Ros and His Orchestra, The Dave Harris Trio, Massimo Faraò, Evan Marshall, Jonathan Kreisberg - Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart, Jolie Goodnight, All Angels, Copper Penny, Tom Keane, The Greg Chako Trio, Jeanne Hatfield, Big Band Ritmo Sinfonica Città Di Verona, Eggy Ley, Rose Murphy, Charles Delanay, Kelsey Lockhart, Doug Jernigan, Lars Gullin, Ethel Ennis, Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men, Blue Champagne, Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, The Jordans, Johnny Watson, Gerd Dudek 4, Ray Skjelbred, Annabel Linder, Shan Ako, Bob Burford, Johnny Van Derrick and Phil Bond, Maggi Scott, Neil Stacey, Los Shain's, Acker Bilk and Humphrey Lyttelton, Steve LaManna, George Wallington, The Big Four, The John Melisi/Rob Hope Duo with Special Guests Al Foster, John Lockwood, Aurora Nealand and The Royal Roses, Fritz Trippel Trio, Tracey Wilkins, Ray Price Quintet, Frank Morgan, Dennis Marcellino and Mark Stefani, Jazzini, Will Horwell, Bernard Sweetney ‎, Empire Brass, Slide Hampton, Richard Davis with Junior Mance, Karen Edwards and Jarek Śmietana, Nina Simone, Roberto Porroni, James Creitz, Lenny Solomon, Helen Traubel - Orchestra and Chorus Directed by Milton Rogers, Malcolm Lockyer and His Orchestra, Larry Davis, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Lorie Line, Alexander Armstrong, Nina Hagen and The Capital Dance Orchestra, Pamela Sanabria, Ace Cannon, The Ravens, Ivanildo, Al Lirvat et son orchestre, Eddie Henderson, Chaka Khan, Lola Youngman, The Antti Sarpila Quintet, Günter Noris, Burt Blanca, Alexia Gardner, David Davidson and Jack Jezzro, Sarah Spicer, Ohio Players, Sid Jacobs with Joe La Barbera and Darek Oles, The Bittersweets, Michael Bolton, Jason Parker Quartet, Gold, Michel Legrand, Hunkasaurus and His Pet Dog Guitar, Lisa Yvonne Ferraro, Initials, Tim Warfield Quintet, Leif Uvemark med Saabykören, Michel Bisceglia, Raymond Scott, Tamás Berki and Shabu-Shabu, Yasuto Ohara Super Jazz Trio, Leona, Betty Liste, Jordan Lee Davis, Godfrey Hirsch, Paul Bisaccia, Megumi Kanda, Oscar Klein and Gus Backus, Rita Reys with The Pim Jacobs Trio and Guests, Tyree Glenn with Voices and Brass, Tommy Smith, Tom Swafford, Jeannie Thomas, Hank Jones, Chauncey Gray, Julia Migenes-Johnson, The Fabulous Raiders, Ché and Charlie, Joshua Redman, Fedora Strings, Jacques Barsamian and sa bande, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Great 3, Jerry Gonzalez and Federico Lechner, Krisanthi Pappas, Roger Whittaker, Leslie West, Marv Johnson, Julie London with The Gerald Wilson Big Band, Del Vikings, Mike Brant, Knut Mikalsen Bopalong Quintet, Mary Beth Cross, Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio, Red Camp, Inge Brandenburg - Dieter von Goetze Trio, Pura Fé, Vic Vogel, Cathy Berberian, Christine Hart, Mal Waldron, The Romeyn Adams Nesbitt Quintet, Savoy, Chucho Valdez, Phonolite, Gildo Mahones Trio, Paul Baron and His Studio Orchestra, Olga Konkova, Art Pepper Quartet, Kathleen Battle - André Previn - Orchestra of St Luke's, The Free Design, Fat Cat McRee, Brenda and The Tabulations, The Ray Brown Trio, Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra, Jay McShann and Major Holley, Kenny Mine Meets Ken 3, Dick Oatts - Harold Danko, Swingin' Cats Jazz Quartet, Muriel Roberts, Audubon Jazz Explosion, Dionne Warwick, Staffan William-Olsson, Jessica Williams, Johnny Eaton, Martha High with Shaolin Temple Defenders, Julie Anne, Sarah McKenzie, Bing Crosby with Matty Malneck and His Orchestra, Rossy and Kanan Quartet, Kim Massie, Kay Martin and Her Bodyguards, David "Fathead" Newman, Patricia Cahill, Eliana Pittman, Hyannis Sound, Malcolm McNeill, George Winston, Shorty Rogers and Bill Perkins, Fats Waller with the Leith Stevens Orchestra, The United States Air Force Airmen of Note, Tingstad and Rumbel, The Cavaliers, Shunzo Ohno, Andy Williams, The Asylum Street Spankers, Renée Fleming, Stella Marrs with Roger Van Haverbeke Trio, Bauernbrass Orkesda, Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, Ray Brown Trio with Ulf Wakenius, Cynthia Bythell and Her Duo, M. Sasaji and L.A. 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Porgy and Bess was first staged in 1935 as a serious opera rather than simply a musical. Reports of how the opera initially fared are inconsistent. Critically it did well and a contemporary review referred to it as a "hit". There are also reports that after its first run it went on tour for three years. Yet other sources tell us the initial run was brief and it wasn't revived until 1942.

The truth is a bit more complex than being just a hit or a flop. The show ran for 124 performances - not great but by no means pedestrian during one of the worst years of the Great Depression. At the first the ticket receipts were a respectable $24,000 a week. But the production costs were also high - the orchestra was large as was the cast - and the show ended at a loss. However, certain songs were so popular that they took in enough so that the losses were covered for George, Ira, and DuBose.

Certainly part of the problem was simply gaining acceptance for an opera that had an all-black cast in an era of racial discrimination and legal segregation. Lowell Thomas, the pioneering broadcaster who broke the news story of Lawrence of Arabia, soon learned first hand about the resistance to the show when he wanted to put the opera on film.

Lowell Thomas
He soon learned.

Lowell had helped finance a motion picture system called Cinerama, which was an early form of what was later dubbed virtual reality. The system used three simultaneous projectors directed toward angled screens to produce a three-dimensional effect. In the initial release This Is Cinerama, the audience experienced a number of scenes including a roller coaster ride and flying above the Zion National Park. Later films included traveling around Europe and visiting the Pyramids of Egypt.

Cinerama was popular at first but didn't really last much beyond the 50's. For one thing the novelty simply wore off. But the main problem was the system required special screens and projectors, and for all practical purposes, this meant dedicated theaters. Ultimately the Cinerama name was purchased for what were just widescreen movies but without the multiple projectors and three dimensional effects.

Lowell thought that Cinerama was not suited to narrative motion pictures. But he learned of a production of Porgy and Bess in Dallas starring Leontyne Price and William Warfield that had the stage divided into three sections. Such staging, he thought, would fit perfectly with the Cinerama cameras and projectors.

The filming would also be relatively inexpensive, just setting the cameras up in theater and filming the action on the stage.⁴ But when Lowell went to a movie producer to make the pitch the producer dismissed the suggestion with a racist slur that sickened Lowell who walked out. Lowell later pointed out that the producer's company later released a version of Porgy and Bess after paying a quite hefty sum for the rights.

The lyrics of Porgy and Bess are credited both to Ira and to DuBose Heyward. DuBose was the author of the novel, Porgy, and he and his wife Dorothy had adapted the story to a stage play. DuBose also had a reputation as a poet and how much of the lyrics are his and how much are Ira's is something that hasn't been really been sorted out. But whoever wrote what, Porgy and Bess went from so-so success in 1935 to an opera that is almost always in performance.

The most famous production is undoubtedly the 1959 film starring Sidney Poitier as Porgy, Dorothy Dandridge as Bess, and Sammy Davis, Jr, as Sportin' Life. The story was that Sammy so actively lobbied for the part and that after the bombardment by many of Sammy's friends, Samuel Goldwyn in exasperation finally called Sammy up and told him that he had the part.

The film was generally praised although the voices of Porgy and Bess were dubbed by Robert McFerrin and Adele Addison. Also the work is intended to be a true opera but the movie changed the recitatives to spoken dialog. So the film came off more of a musical. And due to complexities with the rights to the film, until recently it had rarely been seen after a 1967 television broadcast.

Porgy and Bess was George's last stage production. He and Ira had been (to use a rather pedestrian phrase) "cranking them out" for over a decade. Their list of musicals included Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927), Rosalie (1928), Treasure Girl (1928), Strike Up the Band (1930), Girl Crazy (1930), Of Thee I Sing (1931), and Let ‘Em Eat Cake (1933).

There's one other musical worth mentioning and which was George and Ira's resounding flop. Pardon My English was staged in 1933, and the plot was about what would have happened if Germany had legalized Reverse Prohibition - that is, had made non-alcoholic beverages illegal. So if you wanted to drink soft drinks - ginger ale and cream soda - you had to go to a speakeasy.

The plot of Pardon My English is improbable and convoluted even by the loose standards of Broadway musicals. It involves mistaken identity, off-and-on marriage plans, elopement, back and forth amnesias and restored memories, bumbling policemen, espionage, and psychoanalysis. Staging the play was a major effort - even Ira called it a "headache" - and it's no surprise the show lasted only 46 performances and didn't see any revivals for sixty years.

Critical opinion was that it's not just the plot - the "book" written by Herbert Fields and Morrie Ryskind - that's lacking. The songs - like "Doctor Freud, Jung, and Adler"- are far from the Gershwin brothers' best efforts.

♪ If a person starts to quiver

Through cirrhosis of the liver, 🎶

We can't be bothered with that sort of thing at all! ♩

♩ Doctor Freud and Jung and Adler, Adler and Jung and Freud

♪ Six psychoanalysts

We! 🎶

Even George's friends pointed out the show's deficiencies. During the run, George and a group of his (male) friends had been taking a break by sunbathing in the nude. Bennet Cerf, the president of the publishing firm Random House, mentioned that he thought the score was below par. George, who never seemed to believe anything he wrote was less than excellent, disagreed. To prove his point he had everyone go inside where he went through the entire score from first to last, sitting and singing at the piano, stark naked.

The show was finally revived in 2004 in New York City. Maybe it was the sheer improbability of the scenarios, the time span from the setting to our day, or perhaps simply the overall wackiness of the show but it opened to fairly good reviews.

We have to admit that music preferences change and a number of George's hit tunes aren't heard as much today. Perhaps it was the realization that pop songs are ephemeral that early on George turned to "long-hair" music. One story is that he even phoned Stravinsky (or Ravel) and asked for lessons in composing. Ravel (or Stravinsky) asked George how much he made from his music. George replied $100,000 a year - a gigantic sum in the 1920's. There was a pause and Stravinsky/Ravel asked "How about you giving me lessons?"

George's most famous orchestral work is, of course Rhapsody in Blue, first performed in 1924. Rhapsody was followed by An American in Paris, Piano Concerto in F, and Cuban Overture. Which of George's serious compositions is his best - and there's more than those listed here - is, of course, a matter of opinion.

Some eggheads and amateur psychologists may dismiss George as nothing more than a (ptui) Tin Pan Alley song writer who had aspirations of being a great composer - much like people who barely have enough talent to draw cartoons and yet attempt to produce great art. Why, they say, George couldn't even orchestrate his own works and the iconic clarinet introduction to "Rhapsody in Blue" was created by Ross Gorman, the clarinetist to first play the piece, not George!

Well, yes, it was Ferde Grofé - who later wrote The Grand Canyon Suite (later to the suffer the indignity as being background music for cigarette commercials) who orchestrated the first performance of Rhapsody in Blue. On the other hand George himself orchestrated Porgy and Bess, Piano Concerto in F, and others - although they have been reworked by other editors particularly for the larger modern orchestras. And don't forget there have been reports that other great composers sometimes turned the drudgery of orchestration to their assistants, much in the manner of Auguste Rodin handing over the actual creation of his final stone sculptures - the ones you see in museums or in public parks - to his practiciens.

That Ross did come up with the low trill followed by the thirty-second note run and glissando in Rhapsody may only be partly true. Manuscripts - some in George's and Ferde's hand - show the introduction pretty much as written. But certainly Ross's playing helped make the song a modern staple.

The truth is George probably would have orchestrated Rhapsody himself except he simply didn't have the time. He first learned he was writing the song in early January, 1924, when he was playing pool with Ira and lyricist Buddy Sylva. Ira had picked up a paper and noticed an advertisement. George, the ad reported, was composing a concerto for Paul Whiteman's upcoming concert Experiments in Modern Music on February 12 at Aeolian Hall.

Well, that was news to George. Suddenly he had to complete a concerto in a little over a month on top of getting his new musical, Sweet Little Devil, up and running.

George never let minor details bog him down, and besides Paul told George not to worry. Just write the piano score, and Ferde would handle the orchestration. George agreed and the music was finished in time - or at least finished enough for the performance.

Paul's "orchestra" was not a full symphony, and for the premiere it was staffed by eight violins, three saxophones, two trumpets,two French horns, two trombones, two string basses, two pianos, drums, and a banjo. Paul's group was normally a dance band who if the violins and French horns are dropped and the brass and woodwinds beefed up served as the prototype for the 1930's Swing Bands.

The manner in which Rhapsody in Blue is interpreted has also changed in the nigh on hundred years since its first performance. Paul's conducting - with George at the piano - was preserved on an acoustical recording from 1924. To modern ears, the sound is a bit odd. For instance, the clarinet creates a honking "laugh" in the introduction which comes off today as something that Spike Jones⁵ might have dreamed up.

George moved to Hollywood in 1936 with the intention that he and Ira would write music for films. George had already scored Delicious and by 1937 he and Ira had crafted the songs for Shall We Dance (with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) and A Damsel in Distress (with Fred as well as George Burns and Gracie Allen and a script by P. G. Wodehouse). The brothers also began working on the music for The Goldwyn Follies.

George had been having gastrointestinal problems since the 1920's and he had been complaining of headaches ("for years" as one of his friends said). But sometime in the mid-1930's and for no apparent reason he began experiencing an odor he described as burning rubber. His friends just joshed him about his gripes thinking it was simply the stress of his high powered and partying Hollywood lifestyle. Besides, good old George had always been something of a hypochondriac.

But the headaches and olfactory sensations continued and got worse. Then George began having blackout spells. During a performance of Piano Concerto in F with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on February 11, 1937, he stopped playing for a few bars (many in the audience may have not noticed anything amiss). Afterwards he seemed all right and he continued to attend the normal rounds of parties, played tennis, and kept working.

But by June, George was having coordination problems, dropping and spilling things. Playing piano became more difficult, and he found it hard to do his work. Eventually Samuel Goldwyn became frustrated with George's music for The Goldwyn Follies and told him his services were no longer required.

George was also exhibiting personality changes. He became increasingly irritable and began worrying about small things. He bought a quack device - a metal suction cap which was put on the top of the head supposedly to prevent baldness. Then when riding in a car, George tried to push the driver out of the door. He didn't remember anything about that episode. Then when someone sent him a box of chocolates he smashed them up and rubbed them over his body.

A group of doctors examined George at his home but found nothing amiss and toward the end of June, he was admitted to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital for four days of evaluation. After the tests were back, the doctors found nothing that would account for his symptoms. So the docs returned a diagnosis of "a nervous affliction, perhaps self-induced; most likely hysteria." Today this would be termed a "somatization disorder" or an excessive focusing on physical, perhaps normal and routine, sensations.

In fairness to the doctors, though, they were well aware that that mental aberrations could have physical causes. A neurologist, Dr. Eugene Ziskind, noted George was suffering from sensitivity to light (photophobia) and knew this could be a symptom of papilledema or swelling of the optic disc - that is, the place where the optic nerve is attached to the retina. Papilledema itself is an indication increased pressure on the brain.

Dr. Ziskind suggested a lumbar puncture which would permit measurement of the brain pressure and as well as analysis of the spinal fluid itself. But George declined what he feared would have been a painful procedure⁶, and he was released from the hospital. However, today doctors avoid spinal punctures if there is papilledema because of the possibility of brain herniation - that is, movement of the brain tissue from its usual location.

But George's friends still assumed his pains were imaginary and were not particularly sympathetic. Once when he was leaving the Brown Derby restaurant, George suffered vertigo and actually fell down. One of the group simply said, "Leave him there. All he wants is attention.

With friends like these...

George agreed to call in a psychiatrist. That was Dr. Ernest Simmell. Dr. Simmell did not see a patient suffering from a nervous disorder. Instead he thought George was physically a very sick man and needed a surgeon, not a shrink. However, it seems Dr. Simmell was in the minority in his opinion and the other doctors - and George's friends - thought it was all in his mind.

On the afternoon of July 8, 1937, George was at home when Ira stopped by. He found George in sad shape, barely able to walk. Ira attempted to help his brother get up from the bed, but George collapsed.

On July 9, George fell into a coma and was taken to the hospital where it was observed that the optic disk was indeed swollen, a definite sign of increased intercranial pressure. The next day a pneumoencephalography was ordered. This was a procedure where a lumbar puncture drained the spinal fluid from the head and replaced it with air. This permitted an X-ray to better visualize the structure of the brain.

The X-ray indicated the presence of large tumor on the right side of the brain, and George was operated on that evening. But the mass was too large and invasive to be completely removed. The operation lasted five hours and George died at 10:35 a. m, the next day, July 11.

The usual diagnosis is George had a glioblastoma, a rapidly growing malignancy which even today has a low survival rate. However, decades after George's death a physician looked at photographs of the pathologist's slides and thought that the cells didn't look malignant. So he concluded a tumor was likely a pilocytic astrocytoma. Such tumors are often benign and slow growing. This would be consistent with the long span of George's complaints. Mitch Miller, later famous as the Sing-a-Long King of the 1960's but who played oboe in the first production of Porgy and Bess, remembered George complaining of the smell of burning rubber as early as 1934. On the other hand, pilocytic astrocytomae usually occur in children, not in adults in their late 30's. But in any case even benign growths can increase pressure on the brain and if untreated can, of course, be fatal.

Why did George have to fall into a coma before people believed he was really sick? Well, it seems even that wasn't completely convincing. After George was rushed unconscious to the hospital, one of his friends said he heard George had suffered a mental breakdown.

Although the field of neurology is a venerable one and can be traced as far back as Ancient Egypt, in the 1930's the tests available were still far removed from today's medical arsenal. In particular, the non-invasive imaging of soft tissue was decades the future. And the majority of George's tests had come back negative.

But most of all the 1930's was the age of the psychiatrist. Psychiatry was cool. If you went to a psychiatrist, particularly a psychoanalyst, you were hip. It was also expensive - Freud charged a whopping $8 an hour - and only the well-to-do could afford having regular and open-ended sessions with a "shrink". So do so became a status symbol.

So what psychiatrists said carried weight and, in George's case the absence of evidence was deemed to be evidence of absence. By the time they found out what was really wrong with George, it was too late.

The other Gershwins lived long and productive lives. Ira, of course, kept writing lyrics and proved that he could have winners independent of his brothers music. He died in 1983. Frances - called Frankie by her friends - had a good start in performing as a singer and dancer on Broadway but she gave up the lights to marry Leopold Godowsky, the co-inventor of the Kodachrome film process. Despite her mother's initial opposition to the union, Frances and Leo remained happily married until his death in 1983, the same year as Ira. Frances herself lived until 1999.

And Arthur? He lived until 1981 and he did write tunes, and a musical A Lady Says Yes (written with Fred Spielman with lyrics by Stanley Adams) had a short run on Broadway. But he composed mostly for enjoyment and worked as a stockbroker.

References and Further Reading

George Gershwin: His Life and Work, Howard Pollack, University of California Press, 2006.

Gershwin, Edward Jablonski, Doubleday, 1987.

The Gershwins, Robert Kimball and Alfred Simon, Atheneum, 1973

Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist, Philip Furia, Oxford University Press, 1996.

"George Gershwin: 1898 - 1937", Try and Stop Me, Bennett Cerf, Simon and Schuster, 1944.

Swing Changes: Big-Band Jazz in New Deal America, David Stowe, Harvard University Press, 1998.

"I Got Rhythm", Second Hand Songs.

"Summertime", Second Hand Songs.

"Profiles in Jazz: George Gershwin", Scott Yanow, Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"Pardon My English", Matthew Murray, Variety.

"Pardon My English", Matthew Murray, Off Broadway Reviews.

"George Gershwin Orchestrate his Own Compositions? And Should We Care?", Barry Lenson, Classical Archives, March 18, 2015.

"Rhapsody in Blue, The Aeolian Hall Concert of 1924", Joe Bebco, Syncopated Times, February 12, 2019.

"Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue: The Story Behind a Hastily Composed Masterpiece", ClassicFM.

"Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", Edward Waters, Quarterly Journal of Current Acquisitions, Library of Congress, Vol. 4, No. 3, (May 1947), pp. 64-66.

"How Did George Gershwin Get So Rich?", ClassicFM.

So Long Until Tomorrow: From Quaker Hill to Kathmandu, Lowell Thomas, William Morrow and Company, 1977.

"Gershwin Turns 'Porgy' Into Splendid Opera", Percy Hammond, [Washington] Evening Star, October 20, 1935, Page F-7.

"Pardon My English", Charles Isherwood, Variety, March 28, 2004.

"A (Very) Brief History of Neuroscience", Andy Hunter, Brain World, October 20, 2017.

"The Smell of Burning Rubber: The Fatal Illness of George Gershwin", James Franklin, Hektoen International.

Music and Medicine: Medical Profiles of the Great Composers, John O'Shea, J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.

"Glioblastoma Multiforme and George Gershwin", Georg Predota, Interlude, April 25, 2014.

"What Caused George Gershwin's Untimely Death?", Gregory D Sloop, Journal of Medical Biography, February 1, 2001.

"George Gershwin’s Too-Short Life Ended On a Blue Note", Howard Markel, MD, NPR, September 26, 2018.

"Letter to the Editor: George Gershwin Couldn't Be Saved", Edward Jablanski, The New York Times, October 25, 1998.

"Frances Gershwin Godowsky: Her Untold Story", Marlina Bowring, The Gershwin Initiative, University of Michigan, May 26, 2020.

A Lady Says Yes, Playbill.

"The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy", Jonathan Shedler University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, American Psychologist, February-March 2010.

"The Fall of Psychoanalysis in American Psychiatry", Mark Ruffalo, Psychology Today, December 30, 2019.

"How This Couch Changed Everything", Susannah Stevens, BBC News Magazine, June 18, 2015.

The Mind, John Rowan Wilson, Life Science Library, Time Life, 1964.

Asimov Laughs Again: More Than 700 Favorite Jokes, Limericks and Anecdotes, Isaac Asimov, HarperCollins Publishers, 1992.

"Purchasing Power Today of a US Dollar Transaction in the Past", Measuring Worth.

Personal Communication with X, CRNA.