<P> In the late 1910s, Gershwin met songwriter and music director William Daly . The two collaborated on the Broadway musicals Piccadilly to Broadway (1920) and For Goodness' Sake (1922), and jointly composed the score for Our Nell (1923). This was the beginning of a long friendship; Daly was a frequent arranger, orchestrator and conductor of Gershwin's music, and Gershwin periodically turned to him for musical advice . </P> <P> In the early 1920s, Gershwin frequently worked with the lyricist Buddy DeSylva . Together they created the experimental one - act jazz opera Blue Monday, set in Harlem . It is widely regarded as a forerunner to the groundbreaking Porgy and Bess . In 1924, George and Ira Gershwin collaborated on a stage musical comedy Lady Be Good, which included such future standards as "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Oh, Lady Be Good!". They followed this with Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927) and Strike Up the Band (1927 and 1930). Gershwin gave the song, with a modified title, to UCLA to be used as a football fight song, "Strike Up The Band for UCLA". </P> <P> In 1924, Gershwin composed his first major classical work, Rhapsody in Blue, for orchestra and piano . It was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé and premiered by Paul Whiteman's concert band in New York . It proved to be his most popular work . </P> <P> In the mid-1920s, Gershwin stayed in Paris for a short period of time, during which he applied to study composition with the noted Nadia Boulanger, who, along with several other prospective tutors such as Maurice Ravel, rejected him . They were afraid that rigorous classical study would ruin his jazz - influenced style . Maurice Ravel's rejection letter to Gershwin told him, "Why become a second - rate Ravel when you're already a first - rate Gershwin?" While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris . This work received mixed reviews upon its first performance at Carnegie Hall on December 13, 1928, but it quickly became part of the standard repertoire in Europe and the United States . Growing tired of the Parisian musical scene, Gershwin returned to the United States . </P>

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