An Ira Gershwin Celebration

Notes on the Program

by Steven Blier

It is an early afternoon in August 1972, and Ira Gershwin's second-floor bedroom is almost as warm as the steam room of the sort of Turkish bath that he had worked in as a young man.  His seventy-fifth birthday is behind him, and he says he will give no more formal interviews because he is afraid he "will say something that will offend someone."  Over the intercom in his room, we hear his wife Leonore Gershwin saying, "It's Oscar, dear," referring to the curmudgeonly pianist-raconteur - and Gershwin neighbor - Oscar Levant.  "He said you should turn on the Mike Douglas show."  The television is quickly tuned and adjusted, and there is Benny Goodman performing "Oh, Lady, Be Good!" on his clarinet.  When Goodman finished, Ira noted wistfully, "George and I wrote that song in 1924.  I can't believe that it is still being played today."

Such modesty and humility had always been characteristic of the affable scholar-lyricist (his library in the room next to his bedroom contained over 2,500 volumes of literature, history and reference) who, along with his beloved brother, helped shape and define our popular culture.

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