George Gershwin (; September 26, 1898 July 11, 1937) was an American
composer and
pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions
Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and
An American in Paris (1928) as well as the opera
Porgy and Bess (1935).