Herbie Hancock plays the piano in New Orleans Monday, April 2, 2007. Alex Brandon/AP Photo.

A century of 'Rhapsody in Blue'

Until Sinatra belted out “New York, New York” and Alicia Keys joined Jay-Z to record “Empire State of Mind,” Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” alone was identified with New York. It set the path for Elvis Pressley, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey to bring America’s artistic greatness to audiences on every continent.