Inspirational Quotes by Ira Gershwin (American Lyricist)

Ira Gershwin (1896–1983,) originally Israel Gershowitz, was an American lyricist. He collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs and musicals. His Pulitzer for Of Thee I Sing (1932) was the first-ever for a musical comedy.

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, attended City College of New York for two years, 1914–16. He did odd jobs until George, who was quickly becoming known as a composer and musician, asked him to write lyrics. Their first song of collaboration was “The Real American Folk Song,” which appeared in Ladies First (1918.) Ira and George collaborated to produce more than 20 successful Broadway musicals.

Ira wrote under the pseudonym of Arthur Francis in order not to capitalize on his brother’s reputation. He wrote many brilliant lyrics for such Gershwin songs as “The Man I Love,” “‘S Wonderful,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You,” “A Foggy Day,” and “Fascinating Rhythm” and prepared the lyrics for Porgy and Bess (1935,) with such songs as “Summertime,” “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin,’” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.”

Ira Gershwin wrote the lyrics for Vincent Youmans’s Two Little Girls in Blue (1921,) including ‘Oh Me, Oh My.’ Under his name, he wrote lyrics for the Ziegfeld Follies (1936.) After George’s death (1937,) Ira collaborated on films and plays with others-Moss Hart, Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren, and Harold Arlen. He contributed to Gershwin’s revivals. His most famous lyric is Lady in the Dark (1941; music composed by Kurt Weill,) which contains ‘Jenny’ and ‘This is New.’

Gershwin wrote the critically acclaimed Lyrics on Several Occasions (1959,) an autobiography and annotated anthology—it is an essential source for studying the art of the lyricist in the golden age of American popular song.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Ira Gershwin