George Gershwin: An Intimate Portrait

A well written and very readable narrative overview of George Gershwin and his times, with engaging thumbnails of the personalities he was associated with. A master songsmith without any formal musical training, the tunes he crafted cover the heyday of New York City's Tin Pan Alley, to the advent of Broadway musicals, as well as American Jazz and a uniquely American opera. Many of the tunes he wrote are still with us and popular today. The book gives a glimpse of the crafting of popular tunes, often accompanied by his brother Ira as lyricist, where a simple word or surprising musical phrase could make a song a hit. Long before MP3 players and iTunes, songsmiths' lived by royalties based on published sheet music, with the Gershwin brothers being consistent masters at it. Gershwin was working to broaden his appeal and artistic skills, but died before his personal masterpiece, Porgy and Bess, became widely recognized and acclaimed. Gershwin was not alone, and his time included other masters of popular music, entertainment and culture, though few as recognizable as he is today. The book's 173 pages are organized into 21 chapters, with an epilog of the subsequent careers and lives of those closest to him.

I have long been convinced as a college professor, a choral director and a student of American music that George Gershwin ranks among the greatest if not THE greatest American composer. Mr. Rimler's book is a wonderful synthesis of his life and works and it was an unabated joy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who knows and loves Gershwin as I do or else wants to be introduced to this remarkable man. Thanks, Mr. Rimler for a wonderful read.

Just when you thought there could not be any more material to cover Gershwin's short life (the definitive Howard Pollack book of 2006 is possibly the greatest monument)- out comes this little book by Rimmler, and it opens new doors into the Gershwin world. Rimmler had access to private letters of Gershwin's lover Kay Swift, and they are distilled into the narrative. This book is a master class in economy, the condensing of information is brilliantly executed and cuts right to the core of fact. We fly along at breakneck speed, still managing to stumble over an anecdote or two that had previously been unheard of. This book is a little marvel! I am ranking it up there in the top five of best Gershwin biographies.

As an alltime admirerer of the music of George Gershwin, this book was just wonderful. I have read other books on Gershwin, but the detail and directness in the writing is just exceptional. It is also part of the history of American theatre in the early 20th century. Wonderful photos. Highly reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in Broadway & concert music.