Gershwin loved to study music seriously with Rubin Goldmark, a relative of Karl Goldmark (1830-1915).
At the age of 16, Gershwin composed his first hits, The co-operation with Paul Whiteman ("King of Jazz", born in Denver/Colorado on March 28, 1890) influenced Gershwin definitely and fruitful.
1924, the "Rhapsody in Blue" became a world hit. 1925, the "Piano Concerto in F" came into being - performed by George Gershwin himself under the baton of Walter D. Damrosch (1862-1950, Poland und USA).
More incredible successful compositions followed: "An American in Paris" (1928), "The Cuban Overture" (1932) and the "negro opera" "Porgy and Bess" (1935). Who doesn't know "Summertime" or " I ain't got no shame"?
A successful mixture of naivety, wizened jazz elements and spirituals standardized in an incredible music talent let many classical composers never stopped expressing their praises to Gershwin - like Igor Strawinsky or Maurice Ravel... .
