He underwent his immigrant inspection at Ellis Island; on the passenger list, the purser of the "King Alexander" recorded his name as "Vladimir Doukelsky" in the French fashion. It was in 1922 in New York that George Gershwin befriended the young immigrant; Gershwin (himself born Jacob Gershowitz) suggested Dukelsky truncate and Americanize his name. Dukelsky's first songs published under his nom de plume were conceived that year, but he continued to write classical music and Russian poetry under his given name until 1955.