GEORGE GERSHWIN - DOCUMENT SIGNED 09/30/1929 - HFSID 286058

FOR THE VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY'S RECORDING OF HIS 1929 PERFORMANCE OF AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, GERSHWIN RECEIVES ROYALTIES OF ONE CENT PER RECORD SOLD!
 
GEORGE GERSHWIN. Typed Document Signed: "George Gershwin", 1p, 8x10. No place, 1929 November 1. Headed: "Victor Talking Machine Company/Statement of Royalty Due on Selections by/George Gershwin". The statement is titled: "Sold by the Victor Talking Machine Company for period ending Sept. 30, 1929". Two different records were sold: An American in Paris - Parts 1 and 2 (8331 copies), $83.31 royalty and An American in Paris - Parts 3 and 4 (8327 copies), $83.27 royalty. Total: $166.58 royalty. Gershwin was paid royalties of a penny per copy! He has signed beneath this statement: "I accept the above statement of my royalty account for records of my performance in accordance with my contract dated March 13, 1929 and acknowledge the receipt of the amount for the period shown on said statement in full and final settlement of said account." An American in Paris, inspired by Gershwin's time spent in the French capital, was a groundbreaking symphonic composition that evoked the energy and tone of that city during the 1920s, complete with the sounds of authentic, European-style automobile horns! The recording was made by the Victor Talking Machine Company just a few weeks after its December, 1928 premiere. With George Gershwin at the piano, the Victor Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Gershwin's friend Nathaniel Shilkret. THIS RECORDING OF AN AMERICAN IN PARIS WAS INDUCTED INTO THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME IN 1997. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Fine condition.