10 Facts About Bob Weinstock

Bob Weinstock was an American record producer best known for his label Prestige Records, established in 1949, which was responsible for many significant jazz recordings during his more than two decades operating the firm.

Bob Weinstock later rented some space in the Jazz Record Center on 47th Street.

Bebop drummer Kenny Clarke was among those who visited his store, promising that when Bob Weinstock opened a record label "he would get all the jazz greats to record" for him, and introducing him to artists including Thelonious Monk.

In January 1949 Bob Weinstock created a label called New Jazz, with its first release a recording by the Lennie Tristano quintet.

Bob Weinstock was known for having artists record with almost no rehearsal time, recording large quantities of music from the jazz groups in New York City for Prestige and later its Bluesville, Moodsville, Par, Swingville and Tru-Sound imprints.

Bob Weinstock would have musicians record on one take, insisting that the additional takes were less spontaneous and that recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder did not need extra takes to adjust balance, and would reuse tapes if he thought that another take was needed.

Bob Weinstock had the Miles Davis Quintet record without retakes for two full days at Van Gelder's original recording studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, one in May and one in October 1956, building up a mass of material that was ultimately used to create four separate albums titled Cookin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, Relaxin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, Workin' with The Miles Davis Quintet and Steamin' with The Miles Davis Quintet.

In 1972, Bob Weinstock sold Prestige to Fantasy Records and relocated to Florida.

Bob Weinstock became a stock and commodities investor, and made a brief comeback to the music industry with a record label he formed in the 1990s.

Bob Weinstock was survived by his three sons, James Weinstock, Bruce Weinstock, and Philip Weinstock, and his ex-wife of 37 years, Joan Weinstock of Sunrise, Florida.