Gershwin contemporary (4)
I believe the answer is:
kern
'gershwin contemporary' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for kern that I've seen before include "Jerome __ , Show Boat composer, d. 1945" , "Popular composer" , "See 14 Across" , "Old soldier" , "See 12" .)