George Gershwin composed "I Got Rhythm" in 1930 for the musical "Girl Crazy," and the song became an instant standard. Its infectious melody and driving harmonic progressions have made it a cornerstone of American popular music, recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Count Basie.
The piece exemplifies Gershwin's genius for blending jazz idioms with accessible, singable melodies. Generations of musicians have used "I Got Rhythm" as a foundation for learning improvisation, harmony, and swing style, cementing its place in both jazz and classical education.