US composer. His musical comedies, mostly to lyrics by his brother
Ira Gershwin (18961983), were among Broadway's most successful in the 1920s and 1930s, including
Strike up the Band (1927),
Funny Face (1927), and
Girl Crazy (1930). He also wrote concert works including the tone poems
Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and
An American in Paris (1928). His opera
Porgy and Bess (1935) used jazz rhythms and popular song styles in an operatic format.
Successful songs from the Gershwin brothers' musicals include I Got Rhythm, 'S Wonderful, and Embraceable You.
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