Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 20th century. With George, he wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows, featuring songs such as "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me". He was also responsible, along with DuBose Heyward, for the libretto to George's opera Porgy and Bess. The success the Gershwin brothers had with their collaborative works has often overshadowed the creative role that Ira played. His mastery of songwriting continued after George's early death in 1937. Ira wrote additional hit songs with composers Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, Harry Warren and Harold Arlen. His critically acclaimed 1959 book Lyrics on Several Occasions, an amalgam of autobiography and annotated anthology, is an important source for studying the art of the lyricist in the golden age of American popular song. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 6, 1896 (Manhattan), Died August 17, 1983 (Beverly Hills)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 284 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-24141 | 10-in. | 5/21/1920 | Waiting for the sun to come out | Lambert Murphy | Male vocal solo, with violin duet and orchestra | lyricist | |
Victor | CVE-34614 | 12-in. | 2/12/1926 | Gems from Tip-toes | The Revelers | Mixed vocal chorus and soloists, with 2 pianos | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-36090 | 10-in. | 9/2/1926 | Why do ya roll those eyes (¿Por qué me haces ojos?) | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-36653 | 10-in. | 10/29/1926 | Do, do, do | Gertrude Lawrence | Female vocal solo, with piano | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-36654 | 10-in. | 10/29/1926 | Someone to watch over me | Gertrude Lawrence | Female vocal solo, with piano (takes 1-3); with 2 pianos (take 4) | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-36910 | 10-in. | 11/6/1926 | Do-do-do | George Olsen and his Music | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-37119 | 10-in. | 12/10/1926 | Maybe | Franklyn Baur | Male vocal solo, with 2 pianos | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-37507 | 10-in. | 1/4/1927 | Sunny disposish | Frank Crumit | Male vocal solo, with piano | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-37599 | 10-in. | 2/3/1927 | Sunny disposish | Jean Goldkette Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | lyricist | |
Victor | CVE-37723 | 12-in. | 1/14/1927 | Gems from Oh, Kay! | The Revelers | Vocal chorus and soloists, with 2 pianos | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-39184 | 10-in. | 9/15/1927 | The man I love | Gene Austin | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-40507 | 10-in. | 10/25/1927 | 'S wonderful | Frank Crumit | Male vocal solo, with violin and piano | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41134 | 10-in. | 12/2/1927 | My one and only (What am I gonna do) | Johnny Johnson ; Statler Pennsylvanians | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41147 | 10-in. | 12/7/1927 | He loves and she loves | B.F. Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra ; Joseph M. Knecht | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41151 | 10-in. | 12/8/1927 | Funny face | Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Johnny Marvin | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41152 | 10-in. | 12/8/1927 | 'S wonderful | Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Johnny Marvin | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41154 | 10-in. | 12/8/1927 | My one and only (What am I gonna do) | Jane Green | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41185 | 10-in. | 12/19/1927 | The man I love | Grace Hayes | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41346 | 10-in. | 12/8/1927 | The man I love | Marion Harris | Female vocal solo, with violin, guitar, and piano | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41584 | 10-in. | 1/26/1928 | Oh gee! Oh joy! | Johnny Johnson ; Statler Pennsylvanians | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-41585 | 10-in. | 1/26/1928 | Say so | Johnny Johnson ; Statler Pennsylvanians | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Victor | CVE-43534 | 12-in. | 4/5/1928 | Selections from 'Funny face' | Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman | Piano duet, with orchestra and male vocal chorus and soloist | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-48194 | 10-in. | 11/22/1928 | Got a rainbow | Arden-Ohman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-48195 | 10-in. | 11/22/1928 | Feeling I'm falling | Arden-Ohman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BVE-53499 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Liza | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gershwin, Ira," accessed October 7, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.
Gershwin, Ira. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.
"Gershwin, Ira." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Ira Gershwin
Discogs: Ira Gershwin
Allmusic: Ira Gershwin
Grove: Ira Gershwin
IMSLP: Ira Gershwin
IMDb: Ira Gershwin
Britannica: Ira Gershwin
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50076010
Wikidata: Ira Gershwin - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q61059
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/39519496
MusicBrainz: Ira Gershwin - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/509086c2-9cc8-4e77-89e9-322e34240ffc
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