He loved music starting at age 11. Since he was a song plugger he listened to a lot of music. Gershwin dropped out of school to play piano professionally.
George Gershwin's Jewish parents emigrated from Russia to the U.S.A. in 1891 and lived in the poor lower east side of Manhattan
His family were poor but his parents bought a piano for his older brother Ira - but it was George who wanted to learn music and master the piano. His parents paid for music lessons. Charles Hambitzer, the pianist in the Beethoven Symphony Orchestra, became his mentor. He was also studied with American composers and musicians including Rubin Goldmark, Henry Cowell, Wallingford Riegger and Joseph Schillinger
George Gershwin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. His types of compositions and works included operas, musicals, songs, piano music and orchestral music
George Gershwin had an affair with composer Kay Swift which lasted 10 years