![]() Wein played in various jazz bands around Boston while still in Newton High School. He was later introduced to Earl Hines’ horn-like piano style and the die was cast for his life in jazz and music. He started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. His mother, Ruth, was a homemaker, and he had an older brother, Lawrence. Barnet Wein, was an ear, nose, and throat specialist. ![]() George Theodore Wein was born in Newton, MA, on, October 3, 1925, to Jewish parents. I’m glad to have been part of this process: in the development of the jazz festival, the acceptance of this music as art, the efforts to bring jazz to a wider audience worldwide. In his 2003 biography, Myself Among Others: A Life in Music, with Nate Chinen, Wein wrote, “whether it's one of the many festival producers throughout the world, or the concert promoters, or the individual nightclub owners struggling night to night – their contributions are essential to the history of this music. ![]() Upon the announcement of his new role, McBride said, “To be able to work with a legend like George Wein, not only as a musician, but now as an understudy, is a task I will cherish and approach with openness and excitement.” He told Elmore magazine in 2019, “He’s still the source and guiding light for every person who runs a major festival.”Įven now, that sentiment continues to be echoed by producers in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and all across North America. He was my mentor and, more importantly, my friend and I will miss him dearly.” As a result, he has perhaps done more to preserve jazz than any other individual. “George has an undeniable gift for making things happen. ![]() “He not only invented the idea of a modern-day music festival and made the careers of numerous music icons, but his investment in music appreciation is to me what makes him the biggest icon of them all,” said Sweet. Then he set his sights on bassist Christian McBride, who, unrivaled, became Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival in 2017. First he tapped producer Jay Sweet, who had brought new life into the Folk Festival, to work as Executive Producer to oversee the organization with the board of directors. Just before his 90th birthday, Wein began planning for the sustainability of Newport Festivals Foundation, the non-profit that runs the two music events. Wein created the music festival as we know it, putting jazz and folk and their many variations in the most accessible performance spaces to the widest audiences possible. The following year, Duke Ellington said he was “born at Newport” when he recorded one of his biggest hits, Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. Miles Davis, who told Wein that “you can’t have a festival without me,” performed his comeback in 1955 with his immortal performance of ‘Round Midnight. Known more as a producer than a performer, Wein made stars of, and revived the careers of generations of musicians who performed at his venues. More than anyone, George set the stage for what great festivals today look like festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo … he made this possible…” When Wein received a Grammy® Honorary Trustee Award in 2015, the awards show host, rap star/actor LL Cool J, said, “George Wein defined what a music festival could be with the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Wein, co-founder and creator of the Newport Jazz Festival® and the Newport Folk Festival®, who for seven decades, was the most influential presenter of music around the globe, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, September 13, 2021. Impresario, promoter, pianist, art collector and philanthropist George T.
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