(1898–1937)
a US composer who wrote many popular songs. He also wrote serious music in which he introduced elements of jazz and other forms of popular music. His best-known works include Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and the African-American opera Porgy and Bess (1935). He also wrote several musical comedy shows, including Lady Be Good (1924), Strike up the Band (1927) and Of Thee I Sing (1931), which won a Pulitzer Prize . George Gershwin’s brother Ira (1896–1983) wrote the words for many of his songs.