BS: Gershwin's tumor

Subject: Gershwin's tumor
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 09:58 AM

Heard an interesting segment on NPR today (wonder how many of my posts start with that?) about Gershwin, who died of a brain tumor after being crazy and an accused hypochondriac for years before. The diagnosis at the time was cancer. Well, somebody has been going over old autopsy info and has found (decided?) that it not only wasn't cancer, but that the location of the brain tumor would explain a lot of the neurotic stuff he was doing, like smearing chocolates all over his body (as if anybody needs an excuse!)... and that had they operated, he likely would have been OK, even though this was the 30's.

Anyway, it was interesting and music-related so I thought I'd post this, see what y'all know/think about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 12:12 AM

Gershwin's WHAT????

Mrrzy.... I love you!

What a day!

On any other day at the Mudcat this thread wouldda had a BIG PLAY!

Wait... lemmee see.... maybe I can help start an argument over it.... yeah, that'll get this going...

OK.

What are you doing talking about GERSHWIN???? This is a FOLK MUSIC site! Or BLUES! Or MAYBE bluegrass now we had that damn movie!

And how can chocolate be better than men if Gershwin really... oh, thread creep!

AND HOW IS IT MUSIC RELATED EZZACKLY?? What, there was a Rhapsody in Chocolate?

*G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 12:19 PM

Thank you, thank you. I guess nobody but me likes these old revisionist autopsy things... like the one where they dug up Jesse James, or Tom Dooley, etc... what about Bonaparte's retreat? Just to keep it folksy. And I love you too!

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 12:27 PM

No! Nuh UH! I saw the Jesse James thing on TV TWICE!!!! It was on again last week... wasn't he a cowboy singer later in life? After death I mean!?? *G*G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 12:46 PM

Susan, read that Tony Hillerman novel set around that story. Wish I could remember which one it was.

Meanwhile, I wonder if anyone else is going to join this conversation? If not, is it just because it wasn't Dylan's tumor? Maybe I should get a Joe Clone to retitle it, and then apologize for the false advertising later!

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 01:00 PM

I dunno. Now I am thinking of that other piece Gershwin created after things got dicey-- Raspberry in Chocolate. Poor guy.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: Bluebelle
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 01:21 PM

Which Gershwin? Having been a fan of both, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know George/Ira died from a brain tumor.

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 01:37 PM

Mrrzy, I think the thread name change should be to Tune Req: (or Lyr Req:) GERSHWIN'S TUMOR.

Or Song Challenge!: GERSHWIN'S TUMOR.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 02:00 PM

Bluebelle, I'm pretty sure it was George, but I don't remember it being specified. In fact, I never knew there were two... and Susan, I like your ideas!

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: Justa Picker
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 02:03 PM

It was George.
Here's a brief bio.

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 02:06 PM

As long as it's not a healing thread Mrrzy.

*G*

What, figure it takes ten posts or so to wake up a sleeping thread?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Gershwin's tumor
From: hesperis
Date: 13 Apr 01 - 04:09 PM

It was George Gershwin. Ira was his brother, and the lyricist. Gershwin wrote both popular songs (with his brother,) and great "classical" masterworks (by himself).

He is a good topic for a folk/blues forum, as he is the only white man ever to have beaten a black guy in a pre-blues "shouting" match.

It is really sad how many serious illnesses go undiagnosed, or are diagnosed as "mental illness" or "hypochondria"!!! Grrrrrrr.