Skip to main content

George Gershwin, "Porgy and Bess" Summertime

Summertime (Porky and Bess)

Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin





George Gershwin's "American Folk Opera" Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway on October 10, 1935, in the middle of the Great Depression and closed after only 124 performances on January 25, 1936.

In May 1940, Decca Records assembled some of the members of the original cast, including Todd Duncan and Anne Brown, who had played the title characters, for a recording session that produced a 78 rpm album of selections from the score.

Anne Wiggins Brown (born Annie Wiggins Brown August 9, 1912 - died March 13, 2009) was an African American soprano who created the role of "Bess" in the original production of George Gershwin's folk opera Porgy and Bess in 1935.
She was also a radio and concert singer. She settled in Norway in her 30's and later became a Norwegian citizen.

Anne Brown - My Man's Gone now.

Even today, some 72 years later, the tune is still a favorite.

Summertime was a tune from the opera Porgy and Bess that had opened only some 9 months before this recording was made. Billie's was probably the greatest version ever made.

Bechet 1939 Summertime recording.
Accompanied by Teddy Bunn - Guitar, Meade Lux Lewis - piano,Johnny Williams - bass and Big Sid Catlett - drums. Wonderful stuff




Share your favorite rendering of this memorable song in your comment.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have a laugh with funny quotes

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw        I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally. W. C. Fields Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse. Groucho Marx Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.  Bill Cosby Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back home. Bill Cosby He taught me housekeeping; when I divorce I keep the house. Zsa Zsa Gabor A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths. Steven Wright  Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect. Steven Wright    I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Steven Wright  I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead. Not sick. Not wounded. Dead. Woody Allen I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens. Woody Allen I do...

Adversity Strenght. Positive Affirmation.

We all read quotes to give us wisdom, strength, …   After reading them one feels empowered, elevated, wiser.... but quickly the feelings dissipates. Why can we sustain those feelings of power of renewed trust on oneself? I would like to try something. I will learn one quote and repeat it in the course of the whole day, making the quote my mantra, until it will be part of my normal though. Join me and let try it for one day. Leave me a comment if you did try it.  Also if you have ideas on how to sustaining that positive mental thinking please share it in the comment.                                           . Don t forget to leave a comment and to subscribe for more fun post.

La Pieta.

  In the midst of war and strife, Lies a world full of human life, Suffering and pain, tears and cries, As the ground beneath them dies. Mothers weep and children cry, As bombs fall from the sky, Fathers lost and brothers gone, As the battle rages on. Innocent lives caught in the crossfire, As the hatred and anger conspire, Leaving behind a trail of destruction, And a world full of disruption. Yet amidst all this chaos and despair, There is still a glimmer of hope and care, For those who strive for peace and love, And look to the heavens above. Let us come together, hand in hand, And build a world that we can all understand, Where the sun shines on every face, And we all live in a world full of grace.