Immigrants from Russia, Morris and Rose Gershwin became the parents of George Gershwin on September 26, 1898. George grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Like any other young boy, he enjoyed skating and hockey, but showed no interest in music.

When the Gershwin family brought home a second-hand piano, George's older brother Ira practiced his scales. This is when George started to become interested in music. He soon asked to have a music teacher. George's had a schoolmate, named Max Rosen, who was a true inspiration to study music.

When George decided to seriously study music he began studying with a variety of teachers one of which was Charles Hambitzer. He was one of the most inspiring and helpful of all of them. Hambitzer introduced George to many famous composers such as Chopin, Debussy and Liszt. He also introduced him to harmony which started his career.

George wrote songs for singers for fifteen dollars a week. Then one of his songs was adopted by a comedian and singer and became a million-copy hit. He became famous. One of his musicals,Of Thee I Sing, became the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize. He was much sought afer and was commissioned to write many songs.

His career ended when doctors discovered a brain tumor. On July 11, 1937 following an unsuccessful operation he suddenly died. George Gershwin's music, however, will live on forever.