1. George and Ira Gershwin By Hannah Collins, Matt Peebles, and Courtney Goodman

2. Early Life George Born- September 26, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York Son of Russian Jewish immigrants Dropped out of school at age 15 to pursue piano Ira Born- December 6, 1896 in Brooklyn, New York Went to Townsend Harris High School Worked as a cashier in the Turkish baths

3. Life in Theatre George started playing in Tin Pan Alley George composed music and worked as a rehearsal pianist for Broadway singers Ira frequented the local Yiddish theaters 1921, Ira became involved in theatre George was the composer and Ira was the lyricist George and Ira wrote their first Broadway show together, Lady Be Good

4. Famous Contributions Porgy and Bess “Rhapsody in Blue” Let’s Call the Whole Thing off Strike Up the Band Someone to Watch Over Me “The Real American Folk Song”

5. Impact Have an award named after them- The George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award Wrote over 12 Broadway shows Started the evolution of Jazz music (Rhapsody in Blue)

6. Influences George Teachers- Henry Cowell, Wallingford Riegger, Edward Kilenye, Joseph Shillinger Charles Hambitzer was his piano teacher Ira Yip Harburg was his friend in school who also went on to be a musician Signed by Alex Aarons

7. Awards 1938- Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music/Original Song for “They Can’t Take that Away From Me” 1998- Won a star on the Walk of Fame 1932- Ira won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for “Of Thee I Sing” Nominated for Academy Awards for best Original Song –“They Can’t Take that Away From Me”(1937) –“Long Ago and Far Away”(1944) –“The Man That Got Away”(1954)

8. Interesting Facts Both involved in school newspapers and magazines Winners of the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award- Ray Charles, Julie Andrews, James Taylor, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, MC Hammer

9. Works Cited George & Ira Gershwin." Nonesuch Records Journal RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. George Gershwin Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. The Gershwin LegacyLibrary Celebrates Contributions of George and Ira." The Gershwin Legacy (September 1998). N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. Home | Gershwin Music." Home | Gershwin Music. Gershwin Enterprises, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. Ira Gershwin Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.