Born in New York, Gershwin's upbringing was not typical of most professional composers. His life was fairly typical until the age of 12, when a piano arrived at the Gershwin home, which was ironically intended for Ira. George showed an immediate talent for the piano, playing popular songs of the day by ear.
To say that Gershwin took to music would be an understatement. The purchase of the piano for Ira unleashed a hidden talent, and he almost immediately began working in New York's 'Tin Pan Alley' (named for the 'tinny' sound of the pianos) as a 'song plugger,' a musician hired by publishing companies to play their published songs for customers. In the next few years, Gershwin would also begin to write his own music, a skill that would bring him much fame and admiration in the future.
Along with being a songwriter, Gershwin was accomplished at the piano, and he had a desire to undertake classical training. He began studying piano in 1912, and also took lessons in theory and composition with such notable names as Joseph Schillinger and Henry Cowell, a well-respected American composer in his own right.
By the time he was 15, Gershwin had quit school and was a full-time musician and songwriter. While working for various publishing houses, he began to realize he could write better songs than the songs he'd been plugging for other songwriters. His first song was published in 1916, and his first big success came in 1919, when Al Jolson sang his song 'Swanee' in the musical 'Sinbad,' which was co-written with Irving Caesar. During the same year, his first staged musical premiered, 'La La Lucille.'
This foray into musical theatre would prove to be a significant move for Gershwin. The 20's would see his career expand greatly, and from this period would come many of the songs for which he is still so fondly remembered today.
(Please come back for part 2 of this article next week!)
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