IRA GERSHWIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/18/1959 - HFSID 252566

IRA GERSHWIN
Ira Gershwin sends an autograph letter talking about his book Lyrics on Several Occasions.
Autograph Letter Signed: "Ira Gershwin", 2p, 5¼x6¾, conjoined leaves. New York City, 1959 October 18. On letterhead of The Gotham to John A. Fischbach, Phoenix, Arizona. In full: "Good luck and health to you and your wife in the new home. My operation was quite successful, enabling me to take this trip to New York. Among other things I'm here for the publication of my book, Lyrics on Several Occasions (Knopf is the publisher), which will be officially on sale tomorrow, Oct. 19th. The reviews should start coming in soon and I hope the critics like it as I've put in the better part of three years on it. Hope you like it too. All best." Slightly creased with folds, not at signature. Fine condition. Accompanied by original stamped envelope, 5½x3½. Addressed to Fischbach by Gershwin, who has crossed off The Gotham imprint on back flap and written his Beverly Hills, California address at upper left corner on front. Slightly creased at corners, slightly soiled. Neatly opened at upper edge. Fine condition. In 1959, Gershwin published his book, Lyrics on Several Occasions, which contained over 100 of his lyrics accompanied by his annotations and observations. That year, he also released an album of his works under the same name, and another album, The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook, a collection of 53 songs sung by Ella Fitzgerald, was released. The following year, Ira would retire after three decades of songwriting. The first lyricist to win a Pulitzer Prize (1932, Of Thee I Sing), Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) wrote the lyrics to a number of the songs by his older brother, George, including "Liza", beginning in 1924 for the musical Lady Be Good. In 1931, the brothers wrote for their first Hollywood musical, Delicious. After George's death in 1937, Ira worked with a number of other composers, including Jerome Kern (Cover Girl, 1944) and Harold Arlen (the musical remake of A Star is Born, 1954). Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Song in 1937 (Shall We Dance?), 1944 (Cover Girl) and 1954 (A Star is Born), Ira also wrote lyrics or the music score for a number of other feature films, including An American in Paris (1951), The Country Girl (1954) and Funny Face (1957). Two items.