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George Wein

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

George Wein was an American jazz promoter, pianist and producer, born on 3 October 1925 in Lynn, Massachusetts and died on 13 September 2021. His father was an ear, nose and throat doctor, and his mother played amateur piano. Wein began piano at eight, formed his first jazz band in high school and studied at Boston University. After his army service in the Second World War he graduated in 1950. He then opened the jazz club Storyville in Boston, which later gave its name to a record label. He also taught the history of jazz.

Music and breakthrough

In 1954 Louis and Elaine Lorillard asked him to organise a festival in their home town of Newport, Rhode Island. It was the first open-air jazz festival in the United States and became an annual tradition. Wein also founded the Newport Folk Festival, together with Pete Seeger and Theodore Bikel, and played an important part in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles. In the 1960s he started Festival Productions, which organised major jazz events.

Influence

Wein came up with the corporate sponsor at festivals: his Schlitz Salute to Jazz and Kool Jazz Festival were the first jazz events with a sponsor in the title. As a pianist, too, he made records, such as Wein, Women and Song from 1955 and Tribute to Count Basie from 1974. Among other honours he received the French Légion d'honneur and was made Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. His work ensured that jazz became a fixture of the summer festival season.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Tribute to Count Basie from 1974 and notice Wein's piano playing. He was above all an organiser, but he also played the piano himself.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists