The 100 Greatest Brooklynites of All Time: 20 to 11
Born in Brooklyn, Gershwin would team with his brother Ira to write some of the early 20th century’s greatest standards: “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “They Can’t Take that Away from Me,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and many, many more. But Gershwin (born Gershvin) was also a Serious Composer, writing major orchestral works like “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris,” which helped bring jazz into the concert hall. The opera Porgy and Bess also blurred high-low distinctions, merging opera with musical theater to create a masterpiece that still uneasily occupies a place in both. He died early, in 1937, leaving behind an essential body of work and a final song, “Love is Here to Stay,” whose lyrics by Ira were serendipitously poignant: “the Rockies may crumble/Gibraltar may stumble/they’re only made of clay/but our love is here to stay.” Just like his music!