Olin Downes(1886-1955)

Renowned music critic during the first half of the twentieth century. He was music critic for the New York Times from 1924 until his death in 1955.

[reviewing 'George Gershwin's Songbook'] Gershwin's way of playing the piano was maddeningly his own. He could never write down his accompaniments as he played them, although the edition of selected songs which appeared some six years ago had affixed to them a series of laughably appropriate embroideries on the melody for the keyed instruments.