George Gershwin

On Jan. 1, 2025 the U.S. copyright expires on creations from 1929. That means early comic characters, novels, films and songs can be used without permission or payment.

George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ remains a crowd favorite, but scholars are starting to see the composition as a whitewashed version of Harlem’s vibrant Black music scene.

Known as one of the most significant composers of American music, George Gershwin excelled in popular songs, Broadway musicals and even classical…