A Trio Of
Jewish Films

62

On The Bookshelf:
'Me Times Three'

68

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As the DSO presents a
romantic Pops concert,
family members with
Michigan ties recall the
musical legacy of the
Gershwin brothers.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

U

George
and Ira
Gershwin
in a 1920s
photograph.

pcoming Detroit Symphony
Orchestra Gershwin concerts may
trigger some up-close and personal
memories for senior fans of the corn-
poser. George Gershwin, who wrote enduring
musical theater and Hollywood melodies as his
brother Ira wrote the lyrics, performed his own
pieces in concerts with the DSO in the 1930s.
Talking about "I've Got a Crush on You:
Romantic Gershwin," the DSO Pops program
coming to Orchestra Hall Feb. 14-17, triggered
lots of up-close and personal memories for
Adam Gershwin, the husband of former
Detroiter Amy Salesin Gershwin.
Adam, great-nephew of the songwriting team —
his grandfather Arthur was the younger brother of
George and Ira — does some business work for the
Gershwin Family Trust and recalls being with the
famous lyricist on two special occasions, once when
he was 7 and again when he was 9.
Born long after the 1937 death of George
Gershwin, the young Adam thought he would
become a composer, and told Ira Gershwin
(1896-1983) so. With that in miqd, his famous
relative gave the youngster the rhyming diction-
ary that was used to come up with the famous
lyrics to George Gershwin's melodies.
"I think it's wonderful that the Detroit concerts
are happening," says Adam, who in 1998 escorted
Amy to New York to attend a string of perform- .
ances in celebration of the 100th anniversary of

George Gershwin's birth.

S'WONDERFUL

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