George Gershwin was a transformative American composer and pianist who redefined the musical landscape by merging classical traditions with jazz and popular styles. Born to Jewish immigrants, he rose from a teenage "song plugger" on Tin Pan Alley to a celebrated creator of Broadway musicals and symphonic masterpieces like Rhapsody in Blue. Alongside his brother Ira Gershwin, he produced enduring standards and the landmark opera Porgy and Bess, which is now considered a cultural classic. Despite a prolific career that earned him a Pulitzer Prize and international acclaim, his life was tragically cut short at age 38 by a brain tumor. Today, his vast musical legacy ...