Such hypotheticals betray a reality that affords a fascinating exploration of how Gershwin’s musical legacy – and particularly that of Rhapsody in Blue – has been shaped as a result of his early passing. Gershwin’s death on July 11, 1937 sent shock waves across the nation, and his memorialization through performances of the Rhapsody began almost immediately. Radio responded first, with tributes broadcast coast-to-coast. The evening after Gershwin’s death, David Broekman’s orchestra along with Bing Crosby and Victor Young appeared on the Mutual Broadcasting System, originating from Los Angeles. Simultaneously, the NBC Blue Network in New York City featured a concert by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. The next day the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Czerwonky, included Rhapsody in Blue in their CBS broadcast from Grant Park, reaching over one hundred stations.