George Wein

George Theodore Wein, (October 3, 1925, Boston, Massachusetts).

FZ in "The Real Frank Zappa Book" (1989): "In 1969, George Wein, impresario of the Newport Jazz Festival, decided it would be a tremendous idea to put the Mothers of Invention on a jazz tour of the East Coast. We wound up working in a package with Kirk, Duke Ellington and Gary Burton in Miami at the Jai Alai Fronton, and at another gig in South Carolina."

From Festival Productions (http://www.festivalproductions.net/04/About/ceo.htm): "Jazz Impresario George Wein is considered to be as much a legend as his festivals. In addition to operating his company, Festival Productions, Inc. which staffs offices in six cities and produces hundreds of music events during the course of the year, Mr. Wein is the person responsible for the Newport Jazz Festival - an event that started the 'festival era', according to jazz critic Leonard Feather. Even at 77, Wein has as much creative fuel as he did when he started that festival more than forty years ago and advanced the concept of live music. George Wein pioneered the concept of sponsor association with music events. Events such as the Schlitz Salute to Jazz and the Kool Jazz Festivals, preceded any other sponsor identity with entertainment events. Wein was the first to give the sponsor the title presentation that guaranteed mention of the sponsor's name in publicity and promotion. In addition to his work as a producer, Wein is an accomplished pianist whose group, the Newport All-Stars, has toured the United States, Europe and Japan. He has presented in his band some of the greatest musicians in the history of jazz music."

His autobiography, "Myself Among Others - A Life In Music" (George Wein with Nate Chinen, Da Capo Books, 2003) was well received

• "... his accomplishments speak for themselves. And as his vastly entertaining autobiography proves, those accomplishment make a terrific story." –The New York Times 7/8/03
• "An exhaustive look at a life lived upon the most exciting jazz stages of the 20th century." – Los Angeles Times 6/23/03
• "...an important, valuable addition to the jazz history shelf. It's a fact-filled, melodic memoir, swinging with emotion and energy." - Publisher's Weekly 5/19/03
• "A hugely enjoyable memoir." - Wall Street Journal 5/23/03
• "Wein rates as one of the best friends jazz and folk music ever had." - Boston Herald 5/21/03
• "A sprawling mix of biography, anecdote, philosophy, hard-won lessons and musical history." - Providence Journal 5/15/03
• "A brilliant, up-close and personal survey of popular music during the past 40 years..fearless, inventive and funny." - New Orleans Times-Picayune 5/4/03