Frances Gershwin
Encyclopedia
Frances "Frankie" Gershwin (December 6, 1906 - January 18, 1999), was am American singer.
She was born in Manhattan, New York, the younger sister of George
, Ira
and Arthur Gershwin
. She was the first of the Gershwin family to perform as a child, and she brought home a good sum of money for the time.
She married Leopold Godowsky, Jr.
co-inventor (with Leopold Mannes
) of Kodachrome color photography. Godowsky was also first violinist with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras and performed with his father, the world-renowned pianist Leopold Godowsky
.
Frances and Leopold had four children; listed in order from oldest to youngest they are: Alexis Gershwin, Leopold Godowsky III, Georgia Keidan and Nadia Natali. All four children have been involved in the performing and fine arts.
The film Rhapsody in Blue
came out in 1945, but Frankie and her third brother Arthur were not included in this semi-fictionalized version of George's life.
Frances traveled to Europe with her brother George and performed at parties with him. She also performed briefly on Broadway. After she married, she continued her artistic activities, at one point winning a French painting award. In her later years, she returned to singing again and recorded the album "For George And Ira" in 1973.
She was born in Manhattan, New York, the younger sister of George
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Ira
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
and Arthur Gershwin
Arthur Gershwin
Arthur Gershwin was an American composer. He was not a professional musician, however, and made his living as a stockbroker. He was born in New York City, the third child in the musical Gershwin family....
. She was the first of the Gershwin family to perform as a child, and she brought home a good sum of money for the time.
She married Leopold Godowsky, Jr.
Leopold Godowsky, Jr.
Leopold Godowsky, Jr. was an American violinist and chemist, who together with Leopold Mannes created the first practical color transparency film, Kodachrome.-Beginning:...
co-inventor (with Leopold Mannes
Leopold Mannes
Leopold Damrosch Mannes was a Jewish-American musician, born in New York City, who, together with Leopold Godowsky, Jr., created the first practical color transparency film, Kodachrome....
) of Kodachrome color photography. Godowsky was also first violinist with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras and performed with his father, the world-renowned pianist Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
.
Frances and Leopold had four children; listed in order from oldest to youngest they are: Alexis Gershwin, Leopold Godowsky III, Georgia Keidan and Nadia Natali. All four children have been involved in the performing and fine arts.
The film Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue (film)
Rhapsody in Blue is a 1945 fictionalized screen biography of the American composer and musician George Gershwin . Starring Robert Alda as Gershwin, the film features a few of Gershwin's acquaintances playing themselves...
came out in 1945, but Frankie and her third brother Arthur were not included in this semi-fictionalized version of George's life.
Frances traveled to Europe with her brother George and performed at parties with him. She also performed briefly on Broadway. After she married, she continued her artistic activities, at one point winning a French painting award. In her later years, she returned to singing again and recorded the album "For George And Ira" in 1973.