Summary

One in this series of music programs. In this tribute to George Gershwin, the composer's musical career is recalled in stories told by announcer Frank Singiser and songs performed by the DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra, with Don Voorhees conducting and soloist Conrad Thibault on vocals. With the sudden passing of Gershwin, the tribute pre-empts the originally scheduled program on Richard Rodgers. Singiser traces the beginnings of Gershwin's career by citing his 1924 "Rhapsody in Blue" performance at Aeolian Hall in New York City, and his first hit, "Swanee," featured by Al Jolson in the Broadway show "Sinbad." Other highlights of and key developments in Gershwin's career that are discussed include the story of how his mother paid fifty cents for her son's piano lessons; his job as a song plugger for the Remick Music Company; conducting "Strike Up the Band" in Boston on Christmas day, 1929; the November 17, 1924, opening of the Broadway hit "Lady Be Good" in Philadelphia, with Fred and Adele Astaire in the cast; the show "Oh, Kay!," starring Gertrude Lawrence; the 1932 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Of Thee I Sing"; his venture into composing for Hollywood films; and his successful opera, "Porgy and Bess." Interspersed throughout the program are the following solos performed by Thibault: "Soon" from the show "Strike Up the Band"; "Fascinating Rhythm" from "Lady Be Good"; "Someone to Watch Over Me" from "Oh, Kay!"; "Who Cares?" from "Of Thee I Sing"; and "Beginner's Luck," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," and "Shall We Dance?" from the film "Shall We Dance." Other songs played by the orchestra are "I Got Rhythm," and "Embraceable You," and "Somebody Loves Me." Includes a commercial for DuPont.