1. George Wein was an American jazz promoter, pianist, and producer.
20 Facts About George Wein
1. 2.
George Wein was the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, which is held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island.
3.
George Wein co-founded the Newport Folk Festival with Pete Seeger and Theodore Bikel and was instrumental in the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
4.
George Wein's father, Barnet, worked as a ear, nose, and throat doctor; his mother, Ruth, was an amateur piano player.
5.
George Wein was raised in Newton and began learning the piano when he was eight.
6.
George Wein developed a passion for jazz while attending Newton High School, where he formed his first jazz band.
7.
George Wein studied at Boston University, where he led a small group which played professionally around Boston.
8.
George Wein taught a course at Boston University on the history of jazz.
9.
In 1954, Louis and Elaine Lorillard invited George Wein to organize a festival in their hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, with funding to be provided by them; the festival was the first outdoor jazz festival in the United States and became an annual tradition in Newport.
10.
George Wein pioneered the idea of corporate sponsorship for his events.
11.
George Wein received a wide array of honors for his work with jazz concerts.
12.
George Wein received the Patron of the Arts Award from the Studio Museum of Harlem in 1995, and was recognized with an Impact Award from the AARP in 2004.
13.
George Wein was decorated with France's Legion d'honneur and appointed a Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government.
14.
George Wein has been honored at the White House by two American presidents, Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Bill Clinton in 1993.
15.
George Wein received honorary degrees from the Berklee College of Music and Rhode Island College of Music, and was a lifetime Honorary Trustee of Carnegie Hall.
16.
George Wein was a distinguished member of the Board of Directors Advisory committee of the Jazz Foundation of America.
17.
George Wein has performed and presented at the Jazz Foundation's benefit concert "A Great Night in Harlem".
18.
George Wein presented the Saint of Jazz award to Harry Elias of JVC America in 2002.
19.
In 1959, George Wein married Joyce Alexander, a gentile of African American descent.
20.
George Wein died at his home in Manhattan on September 13,2021, at age 95.