Born October 3, 1925 (age 84)Origin Boston, MassachusettsGenres JazzOccupations Festival producer, concert promoter, musicianInstruments piano, vocalsLabels Arbors RecordsJazz impresario George Wein is renowned for his work in organizing and booking music festivals, and in particular for creating the Newport Jazz Festival, an event that in the words of the late jazz critic Leonard Feather started the "festival era."A professional pianist from his early teens, George Wein went on to lead his own band in and around his native Boston, frequently accompanying visiting jazz musicians. In 1950, he opened his own club in Boston, formed the Storyville record label, and launched his career as a jazz entrepreneur. In 1954, he was invited to organize the first Newport Jazz Festival. He subsequently played an important role in establishing numerous other international festivals, including the annual Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, located in the south of France. In 1969, George Wein established Festival Productions, Inc., which has offices in six cities and produces hundreds of musical events internationally, each year.Still active in producing his festivals at age 80, George Wein serves on the executive board of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and is an Honorary Trustee of Carnegie Hall. In addition to carrying on this work, he is an author, whose autobiography Myself Among Others was recognized by the Jazz Journalists Association as 2004’s best book about jazz, and continues to perform as a pianist with his group, the Newport All-Stars.Mr. Wein was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2005.