George Gershwin, American composer. 1898 - 1937. Best known for classical works like “American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue,” his opera “Porgy & Bess,” and standards like “I Got Rhythm” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

What a stud. The man wrote everything. Ballet, classical, opera, jazz… His music is iconic and totally American. We lost a great man when he died of a brain tumor at age 38. Just think of how much better the world of music would be if he had lived even a few years more. Cheers to George Gershwin.