Gershwin Quotes · Page 2

He's a world-famous name to people who care about his music, but there are many people who have never heard of George…

— Michael Feinstein

I'm a fan of Jerome Kern and Gershwin. That's my kind of music.

— Shirley Jones

Why become a second-rate Ravel when you're already a first-rate Gershwin?

— Maurice Ravel

Jazz is the result of the energy stored up in America.

— George Gershwin

Gershwin inspired me very much. The concept of 'That Lucky Old Sun' was inspired by 'Rhapsody in Blue' - not influenced, but…

— Brian Wilson

When jazz is played in another nation, it is called American. When it is played in another country, it sounds false. Jazz…

— George Gershwin

He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion... no, make that: he - he romanticized it all out…

— Woody Allen

Gershwin's tragedy was not that he failed to cross the tracks, but rather that he did, and once there in his new…

— George Gershwin

Musically Bob [Dylan] is a primitive. He's not a Gershwin, or somebody that uses eloquent music terms.

— Al Kooper

To George Gershwin, on refusinghim as a pupil: You would only lose the spontaneous quality of your melody, and end by writing…

— Maurice Ravel

I was lucky enough to have the songs in my first show written by George and Ira Gershwin. Then Cole Porter wrote…

— Ethel Merman

Ira [Gershwin] was the shyest, most diffident boy we had ever known. In a class of lower east side rapscallions, his soft-spoken…

— Yip Harburg

A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen bya man who should never…

— Virgil Thomson

Jazz is one of the best things that you can find in your life, it can always be your friend.

— George Gershwin

The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself…Making music is actually little else…

— George Gershwin

I like to think of music as an emotional science.

— George Gershwin

A skyscraper is at the same time a triumph of the machine and a tremendous emotional experience, almost breath-taking. Not merely its…

— George Gershwin

I wanted to honor [George Gershwin]. He's a great American songwriter.

— Kristin Chenoweth

You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel.

— Maurice Ravel

Not to dismiss Gershwin, but Gershwin is the chip; Ellington was the block.

— Joni Mitchell

Modern European composers...have very largely received their stimulus, their rhythms and impulses from Machine Age America. They have a much older tradition…

— George Gershwin

I was proud to work with the great Gershwin, and I would have done it for nothing, which I did.

— Howard Dietz

Ira Gershwin, shame on him. I mean, some of the writing.

— Joni Mitchell

Look at the piano. You'll notice that there are white notes and black notes. Figure out the difference between them and you'll…

— George Gershwin

Summertime And the living is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich And your mama's good…

— George Gershwin