George Gershwin

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn in 1898. He started with piano lessons from his mother and picked up ragtime and jazz from sheet music, which shaped how he wrote. In 1935, he worked with his brother Ira on the opera Porgy and Bess, which included songs like Summertime and I Got Rhythm.

He wrote pieces that mixed popular and classical styles, such as Rhapsody in Blue in 1924 and An American in Paris in 1928. Some critics questioned his use of jazz elements in concert works, but he kept composing until his death from a brain tumor at 38.

Songs like Embraceable You and 's Wonderful show his knack for melody that felt both sophisticated and accessible. His music didn't fit neatly into categories, which is part of why it stuck around.