A RARE PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION FIRST EDITION OF IRA GERSHWIN'S LYRICS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 1959, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY HIM TO INFLUENTIAL COMPOSER, PRODUCER AND BANDLEADER SONNY BURKE, WHOSE DECADES WITH FRANK SINATRA HELPED CREATE LEGENDARY ALBUMS

GERSHWIN, Ira. Lyrics on Several Occasions. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1959. Octavo, original brown and green cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of this compendium of noted Gershwin lyrics, an exceptional presentation/association copy warmly inscribed by Gershwin with his inked sketch of himself, "For Sonny Burke—With admiration and every good wish—from [his sketch] Ira Gershwin, (Beverly Hills, December, 1971)." Burke, a leading composer, bandleader and producer, is also famed for his long association with Sinatra in creating over 12 albums in two decades, a handsome copy in the original dust jacket.

Ira Gershwin was a gifted and prolific songwriter, the first lyricist to win the Pulitzer Prize (for Of Thee I Sing in 1932), and a collaborator with such musical luminaries as Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, Harold Arlen, Arthur Schwartz, and, of course, his brother, George Gershwin. This collection of lyrics includes favorites such as "Oh, Lady, Be Good!," "Embraceable You," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and "Someone to Watch Over Me," and each song is accompanied by a brief introduction with the title of the program from which the song originated, the original singers, stage direction, and other important notes. First edition, first printing: copyright page with "First Edition," no statement of printing. This very memorable copy is inscribed to Joseph "Sonny" Burke, a popular, highly respected musician, composer and producer who led his own swing orchestra in the early 1940s, and composed hits for Jimmy Dorsey and Gene Krupa. On moving to Los Angeles, he became a leading composer and musical director for Warner Brothers, Decca and MCA Records, and had his own hit record in Mambo Jambo. Burke was also famously associated with Sinatra "in the creation of more than a dozen albums over 20 years, most notably A Man and His Music, September of My Years and the singer's collaborations with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie orchestras" (Los Angeles Times). Preliminary blank page with small "Lloyd" at upper corner, said to belong to screenwriter David Lloyd.

Book very fresh with only mild spine toning, mere trace of edge-wear to colorful price-clipped dust jacket. An excellent about-fine copy with a distinctive association.