Gershwin, Ira (1896-1983), became famous for the sparkling, witty lyrics he wrote for musical comedies and motion pictures. His lyrics are noted for their unique rhyming, an infectious sense of fun, and a depth of emotion rare in popular song. Most of his lyrics were written to music composed by his brother George. Ira’s hit songs include “Someone to Watch over Me,” “The Man That Got Away,” “A Foggy Day,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.”
Gershwin was born in New York City on Dec. 6, 1896. By the mid-1920’s, he was writing lyrics that brought a jazz influence to musical comedy writing. He collaborated on a series of shows with his brother. Their greatest artistic success on Broadway was Porgy and Bess (1935), written with DuBose Heyward. The brothers then concentrated on movie musicals. After George’s unexpected death in 1937, Ira stopped working out of grief. In the 1940’s, he returned to work on Broadway and then on movies, collaborating with Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren, Kurt Weill, and other composers. Gershwin died on Aug. 17, 1983.
See also Gershwin, George; Musical comedy; Opera (Porgy and Bess).
