Died On This Date (August 21, 2013) Sid Bernstein / Legendary Concert Promoter; Brought The British Invasion To America

Sid Bernstein
August 12, 1918 – August 21, 2013

sid-bernsteinSid Bernstein was a concert promoter who was largely responsible for the onset of the British Invasion by setting up the first US concerts by England’s biggest rock bands at the time.  In 1964, Bernstein felt the excitement building for the Beatles so he contacted their manager Brian Epstein, and convinced him to let him promote two shows at Carnegie Hall after their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The demand for tickets was so huge, that he arranged their legendary Shea Stadium concert the following year.  By doing so, he became the first promoter to ever set up a rock concert in a sports stadium.  Bernstein went on to organize the first five Rolling Stones shows in America.  He also brought fellow British Invasion groups, Herman’s Hermits, the Moody Blues, and the Kinks over for their first US shows.   The list of others Bernstein organized early major early concerts for include Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, Ray CharlesFrank Sinatra, and James Brown who once credited Bernstein for being the only significant promoter to work with Black acts during the ’60s.  Sid Bernstein was 95 when he passed away on August 21, 2013.



 

Died On This Date (February 19, 2013) Art Boerke / South Carolina Club Booker & Disc Jockey

Art Boerke
DOB Unknown – February 19, 2013

art-boerkeArt Boerke was a Columbia, South Carolina booking agent for one-time hot spot, Rockafella’s.  Opened in 1984, Rockafella’s hosted many up-and-coming touring acts before briefly shutting down and retooling in closing its doors in 1988.  Boerke was soon hired on as the club’s booker, promoter and all-around public face and was responsible for bringing acts like Marilyn Manson, Jewel, and the Dave Matthews Band into the venue until it closed for good in January of 1998.  Prior to his run at Rockafella’s, Boerke was a DJ at local stations, WUSC-FM, FOX-102, and K-95.  In later years, he taught history at High Point University.  On February 19, 2013, Art Boerke died following brain surgery after hitting his head during a fall.

Thanks Joey Savitz for the assist.

Died On This Date (January 10, 2013) Claude Nobs / Founder Of The Montreux Jazz Festival

Claude Nobs
February 4, 1936 – January 10, 2013

Photo by Lionel Flusin
Photo by Lionel Flusin

Claude Nobs will be fondly remembered as the man who created the historic Montreux Jazz Festival.  Born in the Swiss city that later hosted his annual event, Nobs organized the first installment while working for the Tourism Office of Montreux in 1967.  The inaugural one included sets from the likes of  Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, and Keith Jarrett.  The festival was quickly recognized as a premier gathering of jazz greats from the world over.  Nobs also made a mark on rock and roll as well.  As it turns out, Nobs was present when the Montreux Casino infamously burned down during a Frank Zappa concert. He heroically rescued several people who were taking cover in the casino. Deep Purple memorialized the event in song which included a lyrical cameo by Nobs – “Funky Claude was running in and out pulling kids out the ground.”  That song is “Smoke on the Water.”   During the ’70s, Nobs worked for the local branch of Warner, Elektra and Atlantic Records.  While the festival expanded to include musical acts beyond the jazz world, it swelled to over 200,000 attendees.  It is considered one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world today.  On December 24, 2012, Claude Nobs suffered a skiing accident that left him in a coma.  He was 76 when he died from those injuries on January 10, 2013.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (August 2, 2011) Wendy Kale / Respected Colorado Music Journalist

Wendy Kale
DOB Unknown – August 2, 2011

Wendy Kale was a music writer who over the course of some 30 years, reported on the Denver, Colorado scene for Boulder’s Colorado Daily.  Kale began her music career as a college concert promoter during the late ’70s,  eventually working shows by the likes of B.B. King, Jerry Garcia, the Rolling Stones and the Eagles.  During the mid ’80s, she began writing a column for the Colorado Daily, and went on to become the one constant at area venues as she soaked in shows for review in the paper.    A tireless supporter of the local scene, Kale has been credited for being the first to champion the Samples and Big Head Todd and the Monsters.   On August 2, 2011, Wendy Kale’s lifeless body was found in her home.  Cause of death was not immediately known, but according to officials, did not appear to be suspicious.  She was 58.



Died On This Date (March 16, 2011) Carlton Haney / Bluegrass Promoter

Carlton Haney
DOB Unknown – March 16, 2011

Photo by Marcia Goodman

Carlton Haney was a bluegrass and country music promoter who first came into the business while he was dating Bill Monroe’s daughter during the 1950s. It was during that time that he began booking shows for Monroe and eventually began managing bluegrass act, Reno & Smiley.  During the ’60s he became one of the first, if not THE first promoter to put together package shows that featured both bluegrass and country artists.  That lead to one of the America’s first successful multi-day bluegrass festivals which he launched over Labor Day weekend, 1965 in Fincastle, Virginia.  Over the course of his career, he was cited as a major contributor to the ultimate successes of such artists as Loretta Lynn, the Osbourne Brothers, Porter Waggoner, and Waylon Jennings, on whose Okie From Muskogee and The Fightin’ Side Of Me live albums, Haney can be heard introducing the singer.  He also penned a handful of bluegrass and country hits for others over the years.  Carlton Haney was 82 when he passed away on March 16, 2011.

Thanks to Janice Brooks at Bus of Real Country for the assist.