George Gershwin is known for his orchestral compositions such as Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris and the opera Porgy and Bess. George Jacob Gershwine was born on September 26,1898 in New York City. He was the son of Moishe and Roza Bruskina Gershowitz. The Gershowitz name was soon Americanized to Gershwine. George had Read More
Month: September 2017
Profile of a Composer: George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan wrote some of the greatest standards we still sing today including “Over There”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “The Yankee Doodle Boy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag”. Cohan published over 300 songs and was a founding member of ASCAP {American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers}. Known in the decade before Read More
Profile of a Performer: Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was a staple on the Broadway stage and in Hollywood musicals during the Golden Age of musicals. She was a favorite with composer Cole Porter. Irving Berlin‘s There’s No Business Like Show Business became her signature song. Ethel Agnes Zimmermann was born on January 16, 1908 in Astoria, Queens, New York City. {She Read More
Broadway Players: Florenz Ziegfeld
If you’ve heard of the Ziegfeld follies than you at least have an idea of the man behind the famed group. He is considered to have “glorified of the American girl.” Florenz Edward Ziegfeld, Jr. was born on March 21, 1867 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Florenz and Rosalie Hez Ziegfeld. He Read More