Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Sam Pittis 4am - 7am

    Sam Pittis

    Now Playing

    'Ding Dong merrily on high' Anon Download ''Ding Dong merrily on high'' on iTunes

    'Ding Dong merrily on high' artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Gershwin

    Guides

    Final illness

    This image appears in the gallery:
    George Gershwin: 15 facts about the great composer

    George Gershwin

    14. Final illness

    Early in 1937, Gershwin began to complain of blinding headaches and there were signs he was suffering coordination problems. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour. An operation was unsuccessful, and Gershwin died on 11 July at the age of 38.

    1. Image 1: George Gershwin piano composer
    2. Image 2: Young George Gershwin
    3. Image 3: Tin Pan Alley Gershwin Swanee Jolson
    4. Image 4: George Ira Gershwin
    5. Image 5: Gershwin piano
    6. Image 6: George Gershwin composing piano
    7. Image 7: Nadia Boulanger teacher Gershwin Glass Copland
    8. Image 8: Gershwin painting Schoenberg
    9. Image 9: Alban Berg
    10. Image 10: Schoenberg tennis Gershwin 15 images

    See the full gallery: George Gershwin: 15 facts about the great composer

    Gershwin latest

    See more Gershwin latest

    Kamala Harris reveals to a group of Georgia high school students that she played French horn and percussion at school

    Kamala Harris played French horn and percussion at school, and has a penchant for George Gershwin

    When Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ reverberated on 84 pianos in the 1984 Summer Olympics

    When Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ reverberated on 84 pianos in the 1984 Summer Olympics

    Hayato Sumino plays Gershwin on Melodica at the Royal Albert Hall

    Viral piano star interrupts ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with a mind-blowing melodica duet surprise

    Hayato Sumino at the Royal Albert Hall

    A phone rang during Hayato Sumino’s pin-drop Royal Albert Hall solo – and he duetted with it...

    Rare footage of George Gershwin playing ‘I Got Rhythm’ on piano unearthed

    Rare footage of George Gershwin playing ‘I Got Rhythm’ on piano unearthed

    Latest on Classic FM

    Classic FM’s Rising Stars with Julian Lloyd Webber

    Watch Classic FM’s Rising Stars with Julian Lloyd Webber exclusively on Sky Arts

    Events

    The most sinister lyrics you never noticed in Christmas carols

    The most sinister lyrics you never noticed in Christmas carols

    Christmas

    See a screening of ‘Home Alone’ with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall

    10 Christmas musical experiences you cannot miss

    Christmas

    Soloist forced to travel with ‘naked’ 1782 violin as airline refuses her boarding with case

    Soloist forced to travel with ‘naked’ 1782 violin as airline refuses her boarding with case

    Study finds monkeys can tap to beat of human music after metronome training

    Monkeys can tap to beat of human music after metronome training, study finds

    Greggs customers spend more when classical music is playing

    Greggs customers spend more when classical music is playing

    Find out how to donate to Global's Make Some Noise

    Ways you can donate to Classic FM’s charity, Global’s Make Some Noise

    Charity

    Oliver won £100,000 in our Christmas Cash Call

    Oliver celebrates Christmas to the tune of £100,000 – could it be you next?

    A Christmas bauble, classical music baby grows and more

    Classic FM Christmas gifting: baubles, books and baby grows!

    Christmas

    Rotherham opera

    More than 2,000 children come together to stage Rotherham’s first ever opera

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker
    • John Williams
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Quizzes
    • Leonard Bernstein
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Careers

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2025
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager