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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 126-150 of 284 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MBS-093082 10-in. before 7/17/1951 Summertime Orquesta Luis Arcaraz Instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D4VB-0031 10-in. 2/8/1944 Long ago (and far away) Perry Como Male vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor D4VB-0483 10-in. 12/19/1944 Bess you is my woman Charlie Spivak Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D4VB-0486 10-in. 12/20/1944 I got plenty o' nuttin' Charlie Spivak Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D4VB-0487 10-in. 12/20/1944 It ain't necessarily so Charlie Spivak Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0030 10-in. 1/9/1945 'S wonderful Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0697 10-in. 10/22/1945 Long ago (and far away) Al Goodman Orchestra ; Earl Wrightson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0749 10-in. 5/8/1945 All at once Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0761 10-in. 5/19/1945 They can't take that away from me Betty Jane Bonney ; Russ Case Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1008 10-in. 1/3/1945 The man I love Albert Sack ; Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1009 10-in. 1/3/1945 Someone to watch over me Albert Sack ; Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1019 10-in. 1/19/1945 Love walked in Sack Albert ; Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1047 10-in. 4/17/1945 But not for me Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1059 10-in. 6/8/1945 A foggy day Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1070 10-in. 7/3/1945 Love walked in Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1071 10-in. 7/3/1945 Soon Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Artie Shaw Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1076 10-in. 7/11/1945 Thay can't take that away from me Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1079 10-in. 7/14/1945 Our love is here to stay Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1080 10-in. 7/14/1945 I was doing alright Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1081 10-in. 7/17/1945 Someone to watch over me Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1082 10-in. 7/17/1945 Things are looking up Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1091 10-in. 7/24/1945 I can't get started with you Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D6VB-1762 10-in. 5/3/1946 Aren't you kind of glad we did Betty Norton ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D6VB-1766 10-in. 5/8/1946 Changing my tune Betty Norton ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D6VB-1906 10-in. 6/19/1946 Oh lady be good Aristokats Instrumental ensemble lyricist  
(Results 126-150 of 284 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gershwin, Ira," accessed October 9, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.

Gershwin, Ira. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148.

"Gershwin, Ira." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102148

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