If he were alive, today would be his 106th birthday. He was born Jacob Gershwine on September 26, 1898 in New York City.

As an American composer and pianist, his compositions included popular, jazz and classical works. Among his best-known compositions are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), “Swanee” (1919), “Fascinating Rhythm” (1924), “Embraceable You” (1928), “I Got Rhythm” (1930), and the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), which included the hit “Summertime”.

Sadly, this musical genius died of a terrible illness at age 38. He fell into a coma and had emergency surgery to remove a large brain tumor, believed to be a glioblastoma. He died on July 11, 1937 in Los Angeles.

Can you imagine how many more songs, operas and orchestral pieces he might have produced had he lived a full life?

In his honor (and for your own pleasure) listen to Leonard Bernstein (another musical giant) play Rhapsody In Blue with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.