George T. Simon
Encyclopedia
George Thomas Simon was an American
jazz writer and occasional drummer. He began as a drummer and was an early drummer in Glenn Miller
's orchestra. He wrote about that orchestra in 1974 with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, known for being the most comprehensive writing on Glenn Miller and his big band.
, was the co-founder of the American publishing house Simon & Schuster, and the singer-songwriter Carly Simon
is one of his nieces. He graduated with a BA from Harvard University in 1934, and began working for the music magazine Metronome the following year. He became editor-in-chief of Metronome from 1939 to 1955
and shifted it, from writing technical articles, to being a chronicler of the swing era
. Simon was probably the most influential jazz commentator during the swing era. Thanks to his inside connections with the jazz world, he was able to report information about bands and their personnel with great accuracy. After leaving Metronome, he was involved with the Jazztone Society (1956–57), was a consultant for the Timex Jazz Shows, and wrote about jazz for the New York Herald Tribune
and the New York Post
newspapers. He also did liner notes
for a variety of musicians, including Thelonious Monk
who was stylistically quite different from the swing-era musicians Simon championed. In 1978, he won a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
.
He died of pneumonia
in 2001, after years of suffering from Parkinson's disease
. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame the following year (2002).
Simon Says: The Sights and Sounds of the Big Band Era 1971
The Big Bands 1968
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra 1974
The Best of the Music Makers 1979
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz writer and occasional drummer. He began as a drummer and was an early drummer in Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
's orchestra. He wrote about that orchestra in 1974 with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, known for being the most comprehensive writing on Glenn Miller and his big band.
Life and work
Simon was born and died in New York City, New York. Simon was born into a wealthy and talented family. Not only was his father wealthy, but his brother, Richard L. SimonRichard L. Simon
Richard Leo Simon was an American businessman, Columbia University graduate, and co-founder of the publishing house Simon & Schuster. Born in New York City, his brother was music critic and author George T...
, was the co-founder of the American publishing house Simon & Schuster, and the singer-songwriter Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
is one of his nieces. He graduated with a BA from Harvard University in 1934, and began working for the music magazine Metronome the following year. He became editor-in-chief of Metronome from 1939 to 1955
and shifted it, from writing technical articles, to being a chronicler of the swing era
Swing Era
The Swing era was the period of time when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States. Though the music had been around since the late 1920s and early 1930s, being played by black bands led by such artists as Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Moten, Ella Fitzgerald,...
. Simon was probably the most influential jazz commentator during the swing era. Thanks to his inside connections with the jazz world, he was able to report information about bands and their personnel with great accuracy. After leaving Metronome, he was involved with the Jazztone Society (1956–57), was a consultant for the Timex Jazz Shows, and wrote about jazz for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
and the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
newspapers. He also did liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
for a variety of musicians, including Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
who was stylistically quite different from the swing-era musicians Simon championed. In 1978, he won a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes...
.
He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 2001, after years of suffering from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame the following year (2002).
Partial George T. Simon Bibliography
The Sinatra Report 1965Simon Says: The Sights and Sounds of the Big Band Era 1971
The Big Bands 1968
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra 1974
The Best of the Music Makers 1979