Final answer:
George Gershwin sought music lessons from Maurice Ravel in Europe but was turned down with Ravel implying that Gershwin was already a successful composer in his own right.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Gershwin, the famous American composer, once approached Maurice Ravel for music lessons while he was in Europe.
The story goes that Ravel, recognizing Gershwin's own formidable talents and his success in America, turned him away, supposedly asking why he would want to be a second-rate Ravel when he was already a first-rate Gershwin. This humorous exchange highlights the mutual respect between the two composers, despite Ravel's refusal to take Gershwin as a student.