Geoge Wein Rest in Peace
George Wein was born on October 3, 1925 and passed away at 95 on September 13, 2021. He was truly a legendary man who served in WWII in the Army and finished college after getting out. He played jazz piano and realized that he loved the music but didn't feel his calling as a player. He opened Storyville, a jazz club, in Boston and booked major jazz talent in the early 50s. He started the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 and The Newport Folk Festival in 1959. He took a stab at classical music production with the Metropolitan Opera in Newport in the early 60s. While it was not a financial success it became the foundation for the Newport Music Festival which continues to this day with summer classical concerts in the mansions and around Newport. He is credited with starting the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1969.
George created the Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1978 and he endowed, in perpetuity, what is now named the Joyce and George T. Wein Shape of Jazz Series at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. According to the NY Times, “… for half a century, if there was a significant jazz festival anywhere in the world, there was a better than even chance it was a George Wein production. At the height of his success, Mr. Wein was producing events in Warsaw, Paris, Seoul and elsewhere overseas, as well as all over the United States”.
For his efforts George was honored around the world. The NY Times reported: “Over the years Mr. Wein received numerous honors and accolades. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2005 and inducted into the French Legion of Honor in 1991. He was honored by two presidents, Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Bill Clinton in 1993, at all-star White House jazz concerts celebrating the anniversary of the first Newport Jazz Festival. In 2015, the Recording Academy gave him a Trustees Award for lifetime achievement.”
There were setbacks over the years with riots in 1960 and again in 1971. He was not defeated but rather reinvented himself and took things in a different direction. He moved the jazz festival to New York where it continued to flourish. In his autobiography, “Myself Among Others: A Life in Music” (2003), written with Nate Chinen, he details all of the ups and downs.
I was thrilled to see George in his final public performance at Newport Jazz in 2019 where he played a show, One More Once and performed ‘Round Midnight for the first time publicly at the age of 93. He said he’d been practicing after not playing for some time. He was remarkable.
I have had the joy and the honor of working for George and the Festivals since the mid 80s and have not missed a day. I have had the pleasure of being a “fly on the wall” at many of the Gala events and witnessed experiences of greatness both in style and class as well as musical perfection in an intimate crowd. I wanted to say thanks to George (and have over the years thanked George for the festivals) with a photo montage of his presence on and off stage. He has been a force bigger than life. He has passed away peacefully at 95 and I will miss him and what he has represented. He was shattered many years ago when his wife Joyce passed away. Now they will be together. May George and Joyce Rest in Peace.
Read MoreGeorge created the Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1978 and he endowed, in perpetuity, what is now named the Joyce and George T. Wein Shape of Jazz Series at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. According to the NY Times, “… for half a century, if there was a significant jazz festival anywhere in the world, there was a better than even chance it was a George Wein production. At the height of his success, Mr. Wein was producing events in Warsaw, Paris, Seoul and elsewhere overseas, as well as all over the United States”.
For his efforts George was honored around the world. The NY Times reported: “Over the years Mr. Wein received numerous honors and accolades. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2005 and inducted into the French Legion of Honor in 1991. He was honored by two presidents, Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Bill Clinton in 1993, at all-star White House jazz concerts celebrating the anniversary of the first Newport Jazz Festival. In 2015, the Recording Academy gave him a Trustees Award for lifetime achievement.”
There were setbacks over the years with riots in 1960 and again in 1971. He was not defeated but rather reinvented himself and took things in a different direction. He moved the jazz festival to New York where it continued to flourish. In his autobiography, “Myself Among Others: A Life in Music” (2003), written with Nate Chinen, he details all of the ups and downs.
I was thrilled to see George in his final public performance at Newport Jazz in 2019 where he played a show, One More Once and performed ‘Round Midnight for the first time publicly at the age of 93. He said he’d been practicing after not playing for some time. He was remarkable.
I have had the joy and the honor of working for George and the Festivals since the mid 80s and have not missed a day. I have had the pleasure of being a “fly on the wall” at many of the Gala events and witnessed experiences of greatness both in style and class as well as musical perfection in an intimate crowd. I wanted to say thanks to George (and have over the years thanked George for the festivals) with a photo montage of his presence on and off stage. He has been a force bigger than life. He has passed away peacefully at 95 and I will miss him and what he has represented. He was shattered many years ago when his wife Joyce passed away. Now they will be together. May George and Joyce Rest in Peace.
