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Ira Gershwin

When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

Frank Sinatra captured by photographer William "PoPsie" Randolph during a 1943 concert. Author Ben Yagoda points to Sinatra as one of the interpreters who helped revive the Great American Songbook. William "PoPsie" Randolph/Courtesy of Riverhead hide caption

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William "PoPsie" Randolph/Courtesy of Riverhead

Author Interviews

When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

For the first half of the 20th century, Tin Pan Alley songwriters like Irving Berlin and the Gershwins dominated pop music. By the the 1950s, tastes had changed, and the music changed with them.

When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

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Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town
Warner Archives

Review

Movies

Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

Fresh Air

George and Ira Gershwin wrote some of their best songs for movies — one of which, 1937's A Damsel in Distress, has just been issued by Warner Archives. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says it may be the oddest of the Gershwin brothers' films.

Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

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'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

Audra McDonald (left) and Norm Lewis play the title characters in a new and controversial take on Porgy and Bess. Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater hide caption

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Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater

Music Interviews

'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

A new production of the classic Gershwin opera takes a surprisingly story-driven approach.

'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

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Music Interviews

70 Years of Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'

On this day in 1935, Porgy and Bess, George Gershwin's opera about black life in the South Carolina town of Charleston at the turn of the century, made its Broadway debut. Karen Grigsby Bates offers an appreciation.

70 Years of Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'

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Music Interviews

'No Place Like Home' Series: 'Over the Rainbow'

NPR's Susan Stamberg continues her series on the meaning of "home" with the story of "Over the Rainbow," from the 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz. The song that became Judy Garland's signature tune tells of longing to escape home for a more exciting place. Of course, as anyone who's watched the movie knows, Garland's Dorothy realizes there's no place like home. Hear different versions of the song.

'No Place Like Home' Series: 'Over the Rainbow'

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'Porgy and Bess'

George Gershwin making alterations to the score for 'Porgy and Bess'. Renato Toppo/Getty Images hide caption

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Renato Toppo/Getty Images

The NPR 100

'Porgy and Bess'

Was this work by DuBose Heyward and George and Ira Gershwin an opera or a musical, a serious work or a patronizing minstrel show? Deeply divided critics asked similar questions

'Porgy and Bess'

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