Of all of the composers from the prime era of the Great American Songbook, probably none was as versatile or as uniquely skilled as George Gershwin (1898-1937). Not only was he a brilliant songwriter but he wrote classical works and could play piano on the level of a virtuoso. Whether it was “I Got Rhythm” or “Rhapsody In Blue,” “Swanee” or “Concerto In F,” Gershwin excelled in every musical area in which he was active during his short life. Gershwin grew up in Brooklyn and began playing piano when he was ten. He had classical piano lessons but was always very interested in popular music. At 15 he left school, working as a song plugger and demonstrater for a publishing firm on Tin Pan Alley. Gershwin also began recording piano rolls, making over 100 by his early twenties. But his piano playing would soon take a back seat to his composing. In 1916 Gershwin had his first song published, “When You Want 'Em, You Can't Get 'Em, When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em" While that tune was quickly forgotten, in 1917 he had better luck with his rag “Rialto Ripples.” In 1919 when Al Jolson included his “Swanee” in one of his shows, Gershwin had his first hit.