Joel Dorn
Encyclopedia
Joel Dorn was an American
jazz
and R&B music producer and record label
entrepreneur. He worked at Atlantic Records
, and later founded the 32 Jazz
, Label M, and Hyena Records labels. He called himself "The Masked Announcer".
. "I'd send letters telling Nesuhi that I thought Ray Charles
should do a duet. What talent they were missing out on, all sorts of critiques and suggestions," remembered Dorn.
. He called himself "The Masked Announcer". "The DJ gig was a great way to get to know all the record companies, and get involved in the business, but I had my heart set on producing the entire time," remembered Dorn.
Nesuhi Ertegun, who'd now been corresponding with Dorn for six years, finally began to take those opinions seriously. "My show had become popular in the Philly market, and I think Atlantic realized that I was becoming instrumental in breaking records for them on a regional level,” figured Dorn. "Before long the letters turned into telephone calls and I eventually met Nesuhi."
As fate in 1963 would have it, Ertegun offered Dorn the chance to produce one record by an artist of his choice for Atlantic Jazz. Dorn chose Hubert Laws
, a young flutist he had seen in Philly performing with Mongo Santamaria
's band. The resulting album, The Laws of Jazz, would become the first of countless record production credits to follow.
By 1967, Dorn joined Atlantic Records
full-time as Nesuhi Ertegun's assistant. He was given the opportunity to sign artists, produce their records and become intricately involved with the promotion and marketing. Rising quickly through the ranks, Joel, along with Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun
, Jerry Wexler
, Arif Mardin
and Tom Dowd
became part of the most formidable record producing team of all time. Focusing primarily on jazz and R&B recordings, Joel developed a production style that was unique to the time period. "I brought pop techniques and pop sensibilities to jazz and R&B records,” recalls Dorn. "As a producer I had two gigantic influences: Lieber and Stoller and Phil Spector
. To this day before I go in and make a record, I'll throw on 'Be My Baby
' or a Coasters' record."
His work at Atlantic Records
with Roberta Flack
on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
" and "Killing Me Softly
" won two consecutive Grammy Awards for "Record Of The Year." Additional Grammies were soon to follow including "Jazz Record Of The Year" for Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton. Joel also went on to sign Bette Midler
and co-produce her debut album The Divine Miss M. "Some of the best times I've ever had involved recording artists who were completely unknown at the time like Roberta and Bette, and then watching them ascend to national prominence," Dorn exclaims. "It's a great feeling to put your faith in a young artist who you believe in and see them flourish."
In 1974, after accumulating ten Gold albums, five Platinum albums and seven Gold singles, Joel Dorn left Atlantic Records. He'd produce for a variety of labels and artists during this period, including albums by Leon Redbone
, Lou Rawls
, Don Mclean
, Peter Allen
, Mink De Ville and The Neville Brothers
. He was awarded yet another Grammy for "Best Country and Western Instrumental" with Asleep at the Wheel
's "One O'Clock Jump
," and received two more Gold records for the Leon Redbone
albums On the Track
and Champagne Charlie
. From 1976 to 1978, Dorn produced three jazz records for TK Records
subsidiary Wolf Records, by Harold Vick
, Robin Kenyatta
, and Kenny Barron
.
In the mid-1980s, Dorn scaled back the hectic production schedule he'd maintained for the previous two decades. He took time off to travel the United States from 1986 through 1989, and in the process gathered hours upon hours of previously unreleased "live" recordings from many of his favorite artists. Four collections documenting Cannonball Adderley, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
, Les McCann
and Eddie Harris
were subsequently released on Joel's own label, Night Records. He later referred to these albums as "audio verite." It was through this short-lived venture that Dorn began to reinvent himself within the industry. He was soon asked to consult for the likes of Rhino
, GRP
and Columbia
, which were in the process of updating and reissuing their catalogs on CD. Joel produced a 13-CD historical overview of the Atlantic Jazz years for Rhino
. His production on the 7-CD John Coltrane
box set entitled The Heavyweight Champion earned him an additional Grammy-nomination, while collections by Ella Fitzgerald
, Billie Holiday
and Oscar Brown
, Jr. cemented Dorn's reputation as a preeminent audio documentarian and reissue producer.
In 1995, the Smithsonian Institute added Joel Dorn's works and papers to its collection in honor of his accomplishments as a record producer. By the end of that year, Dorn decided it was time to take another shot at running his own record label. He subsequently formed 32 Records, which focused on reissuing albums from the classic Muse and Landmark jazz vaults, as well as select titles from Atlantic Records
. In the four years spent with the label, Dorn reissued over 250 titles, and produced the critically acclaimed Individually Twisted by the Jazz Passengers with Deborah Harry. His biggest commercial success of this period came after developing the Jazz For A Rainy Afternoon compilation series, which went on to become one of the best selling jazz sets in the history of the genre. "I'm proud of what we accomplished with 32 Records in such a short period of time. There was the continued effort to get all of Rahsaan Roland Kirk
's albums back in print. There was a terrific Judy Garland
box set and personally fulfilling Clyde McPhatter
set. For better or worse, the Jazz For series turned the industry on its ear, completely reshaping how jazz is marketed in this day and age," Dorn explained at the time. "I go into the record shops now and all these cats like Sonny Criss
, Zoot Sims
and Sonny Stitt
are being reissued with intelligent price points and new packaging. To a certain extent, 32 tested the waters on that front and proved that these artists have an undying appeal. Nobody else was going there and now it's like every company in the world is looking for old jazz catalogs to reissue."
2007 marked Joel Dorn's 47th year in the record business. In a great loss to both American culture and music fans everywhere, it would be his last. Over the past decade, he'd produced albums by Jane Monheit
, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
, Leon Parker
, Janice Siegel and The Frank and Joe Show (featuring guitarist Frank Vignola
and percussionist Joe Ascione
). In 2003, Dorn helped create HYENA Records. The independent label forged an identity with an intriguing mix of new and archival recordings, including those by Bobby Darin
, Thelonious Monk
, Dr. John
and Joe Williams
. Dorn was featured in the film Pipes of Peace, a documentary about Rufus Harley
. At the time of his death, Dorn was completing a five CD box set for Rhino
Handmade entitled Homage A Nesuhi, serving as a tribute to his mentor Nesuhi Ertegun
and their years together at Atlantic Records
. He was also the voice of Sirius Satellite Radio's "Pure Jazz" channel and was producing a series of music infomercials for Time Warner
.
s, including:
), a musician, and his wife Faye Rosen Dorn, a music publisher and A&R person . Joel died unexpectedly on the morning of December 17 of a heartattack in Manhattan
at his doctor's office. Joel had a memorial at Lincoln Center. Various artists performed, such as Roberta Flack
and Dr. John
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and R&B music producer and record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
entrepreneur. He worked at Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and later founded the 32 Jazz
32 Jazz
-Discography:...
, Label M, and Hyena Records labels. He called himself "The Masked Announcer".
Early life
From an early age, Joel Dorn knew he wanted to be in the music business, and not just anywhere in the business; Dorn knew he wanted to work specifically for Atlantic Records. At 14-years old, he began correspondence with the label's co-founder Nesuhi ErtegunNesuhi Ertegun
Nesuhi Ertegun was a Turkish record producer and executive of Atlantic Records and WEA International.-Background:Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Nesuhi and his family, including younger brother Ahmet, moved to Washington, D.C...
. "I'd send letters telling Nesuhi that I thought Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
should do a duet. What talent they were missing out on, all sorts of critiques and suggestions," remembered Dorn.
Career
In 1961, he officially began his career as a disc jockey at the pioneering Philadelphia jazz radio station WHAT-FMWRDW-FM
WRDW-FM, also known as Wired 96.5, is a Philadelphia radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group that plays a Rhythmic Top 40 musical format. Although they lean towards R&B/Hip-Hop, Wired also adds Rhythmic Pop tracks to their playlist...
. He called himself "The Masked Announcer". "The DJ gig was a great way to get to know all the record companies, and get involved in the business, but I had my heart set on producing the entire time," remembered Dorn.
Nesuhi Ertegun, who'd now been corresponding with Dorn for six years, finally began to take those opinions seriously. "My show had become popular in the Philly market, and I think Atlantic realized that I was becoming instrumental in breaking records for them on a regional level,” figured Dorn. "Before long the letters turned into telephone calls and I eventually met Nesuhi."
As fate in 1963 would have it, Ertegun offered Dorn the chance to produce one record by an artist of his choice for Atlantic Jazz. Dorn chose Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws is an American flutist and saxophonist with a 40+ year career in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Alongside Herbie Mann, Laws is probably the most recognized and respected jazz flutist...
, a young flutist he had seen in Philly performing with Mongo Santamaria
Mongo Santamaría
Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
's band. The resulting album, The Laws of Jazz, would become the first of countless record production credits to follow.
By 1967, Dorn joined Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
full-time as Nesuhi Ertegun's assistant. He was given the opportunity to sign artists, produce their records and become intricately involved with the promotion and marketing. Rising quickly through the ranks, Joel, along with Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegün was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum...
, Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
, Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
and Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd was an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Dowd worked on a virtual "who's who" of recordings that encompassed blues, jazz, pop, rock and soul records.- Early years :Born in Manhattan, Dowd grew...
became part of the most formidable record producing team of all time. Focusing primarily on jazz and R&B recordings, Joel developed a production style that was unique to the time period. "I brought pop techniques and pop sensibilities to jazz and R&B records,” recalls Dorn. "As a producer I had two gigantic influences: Lieber and Stoller and Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. To this day before I go in and make a record, I'll throw on 'Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
' or a Coasters' record."
His work at Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
with Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
" and "Killing Me Softly
Killing Me Softly with His Song
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Roberta Flack whose version topped the U.S...
" won two consecutive Grammy Awards for "Record Of The Year." Additional Grammies were soon to follow including "Jazz Record Of The Year" for Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton. Joel also went on to sign Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
and co-produce her debut album The Divine Miss M. "Some of the best times I've ever had involved recording artists who were completely unknown at the time like Roberta and Bette, and then watching them ascend to national prominence," Dorn exclaims. "It's a great feeling to put your faith in a young artist who you believe in and see them flourish."
In 1974, after accumulating ten Gold albums, five Platinum albums and seven Gold singles, Joel Dorn left Atlantic Records. He'd produce for a variety of labels and artists during this period, including albums by Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone is a singer and guitarist specializing in interpretations of early 20th-century music, including jazz and blues standards and Tin Pan Alley classics....
, Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
, Don Mclean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, Peter Allen
Peter Allen
Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
, Mink De Ville and The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
. He was awarded yet another Grammy for "Best Country and Western Instrumental" with Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
's "One O'Clock Jump
One O'Clock Jump
"One O'Clock Jump" is a jazz standard, a 12-bar blues instrumental, written in 1937 by Count Basie, with arrangement from Eddie Durham and Buster Smith. The original recording of the tune by Basie and his band is noted for the saxophone work of Herschel Evans and Lester Young; trumpeting by Buck...
," and received two more Gold records for the Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone is a singer and guitarist specializing in interpretations of early 20th-century music, including jazz and blues standards and Tin Pan Alley classics....
albums On the Track
On the Track
On the Track is Leon Redbone's debut album. It was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1975 and reissued on CD in 1988. It peaked at No. 87 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.The collection of songs features cover art by Chuck Jones.- Track listing :...
and Champagne Charlie
Champagne Charlie (Leon Redbone album)
Champagne Charlie is the title of a recording by singer/guitarist Leon Redbone, released in 1978. It peaked at No. 163 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.- Track listing :LP side A:# "Champagne Charlie" – 2:52...
. From 1976 to 1978, Dorn produced three jazz records for TK Records
TK Records
TK Records was an American record label started by record distributor, Henry Stone in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s...
subsidiary Wolf Records, by Harold Vick
Harold Vick
Harold Vick was an American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist and flautist born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina....
, Robin Kenyatta
Robin Kenyatta
Robin Kenyatta was an American jazz alto saxophonist.-Career:Born Robert Prince Haynes in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States, Kenyatta grew up in New York. He played with Bill Dixon there in the 1960s, playing with his project "The October Revolution in Jazz"...
, and Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
.
In the mid-1980s, Dorn scaled back the hectic production schedule he'd maintained for the previous two decades. He took time off to travel the United States from 1986 through 1989, and in the process gathered hours upon hours of previously unreleased "live" recordings from many of his favorite artists. Four collections documenting Cannonball Adderley, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments...
, Les McCann
Les McCann
Les McCann is an American soul jazz piano player and vocalist whose biggest successes came as a crossover artist into R&B and soul.-Biography:...
and Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ...
were subsequently released on Joel's own label, Night Records. He later referred to these albums as "audio verite." It was through this short-lived venture that Dorn began to reinvent himself within the industry. He was soon asked to consult for the likes of Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
, GRP
GRP Records
GRP Records is an American jazz record company, owned by Universal Music Group and operates through its Verve Music Group. The company's name has had different meanings. In its early days, it stood for "Grusin/Rosen Productions," after the founders...
and Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, which were in the process of updating and reissuing their catalogs on CD. Joel produced a 13-CD historical overview of the Atlantic Jazz years for Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
. His production on the 7-CD John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
box set entitled The Heavyweight Champion earned him an additional Grammy-nomination, while collections by Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
and Oscar Brown
Oscar Brown
Oscar Brown, Jr was an American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, civil rights activist, and actor.He ran for office in the Illinois state legislature and U.S...
, Jr. cemented Dorn's reputation as a preeminent audio documentarian and reissue producer.
In 1995, the Smithsonian Institute added Joel Dorn's works and papers to its collection in honor of his accomplishments as a record producer. By the end of that year, Dorn decided it was time to take another shot at running his own record label. He subsequently formed 32 Records, which focused on reissuing albums from the classic Muse and Landmark jazz vaults, as well as select titles from Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. In the four years spent with the label, Dorn reissued over 250 titles, and produced the critically acclaimed Individually Twisted by the Jazz Passengers with Deborah Harry. His biggest commercial success of this period came after developing the Jazz For A Rainy Afternoon compilation series, which went on to become one of the best selling jazz sets in the history of the genre. "I'm proud of what we accomplished with 32 Records in such a short period of time. There was the continued effort to get all of Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments...
's albums back in print. There was a terrific Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
box set and personally fulfilling Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
set. For better or worse, the Jazz For series turned the industry on its ear, completely reshaping how jazz is marketed in this day and age," Dorn explained at the time. "I go into the record shops now and all these cats like Sonny Criss
Sonny Criss
William "Sonny" Criss was an American jazz musician.An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker.-Biography:...
, Zoot Sims
Zoot Sims
John Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
and Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
are being reissued with intelligent price points and new packaging. To a certain extent, 32 tested the waters on that front and proved that these artists have an undying appeal. Nobody else was going there and now it's like every company in the world is looking for old jazz catalogs to reissue."
2007 marked Joel Dorn's 47th year in the record business. In a great loss to both American culture and music fans everywhere, it would be his last. Over the past decade, he'd produced albums by Jane Monheit
Jane Monheit
Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist for Concord Records. She has collaborated with artists such as Michael Bublé, Ivan Lins, Terence Blanchard and Tom Harrell, and has received Grammy nominations for two of her recordings.-Early life:Jane Monheit was raised in Oakdale, New York...
, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is a USA jazz group started in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1994. The band's lineup has changed multiple times over the years. The group first formed under the moniker "Pimp Cocktail" with founding member Brian Haas as well as Sean Layton, Dove McHargue, Matt Leland, & Kyle Wright...
, Leon Parker
Leon Parker
Leon Parker is a jazz percussionist and composer. He studied drums from age 11 and had classical training in his teens. He went on to study jazz under the tutelage of Barry Harris. His recording debut would be with Harvie S, His first wife Lisa is a flautist and he had worked with her musically...
, Janice Siegel and The Frank and Joe Show (featuring guitarist Frank Vignola
Frank Vignola
Frank Vignola is an American jazz guitarist.Vignola began on guitar at age five. While he never listened to jazz exclusively, he has a wide range of influences, such as Les Paul, Eddie Van Halen and Frank Zappa. He later studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island...
and percussionist Joe Ascione
Joe Ascione
Joe Ascione is an American jazz drummer.Ascione began playing drums at age 2. His parents bought him his first drum set at age 4, and he was playing professionally by the time he was 12. As a teenager, he served as a roadie for Buddy Rich...
). In 2003, Dorn helped create HYENA Records. The independent label forged an identity with an intriguing mix of new and archival recordings, including those by Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
, 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"...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
and Joe Williams
Joe Williams
Joe Williams may refer to:* Cyclone Joe Williams , Negro Leagues baseball pitcher, a.k.a. "Smokey Joe" Williams* Joe Williams , achieved prominence in the late 1950s* Big Joe Williams , delta blues singer...
. Dorn was featured in the film Pipes of Peace, a documentary about Rufus Harley
Rufus Harley
Rufus Harley, Jr. was an American jazz musician of mixed Cherokee and African ancestry, known primarily as the first jazz musician to adopt the Scottish great Highland bagpipe as his primary instrument.-Biography:Although born near Raleigh, North Carolina, at an early age Harley moved with...
. At the time of his death, Dorn was completing a five CD box set for Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
Handmade entitled Homage A Nesuhi, serving as a tribute to his mentor Nesuhi Ertegun
Nesuhi Ertegun
Nesuhi Ertegun was a Turkish record producer and executive of Atlantic Records and WEA International.-Background:Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Nesuhi and his family, including younger brother Ahmet, moved to Washington, D.C...
and their years together at Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. He was also the voice of Sirius Satellite Radio's "Pure Jazz" channel and was producing a series of music infomercials for Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
.
Grammy awads
Dorn won several Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, including:
- "The First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
" by Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, 1972 Record of the YearRecord Of The YearRecord of the Year may refer to:*Grammy Award for Record of the Year*The Record of the Year, a British award based on public polling... - "Killing Me Softly With His SongKilling Me Softly with His Song"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Roberta Flack whose version topped the U.S...
" by Roberta Flack, 1974 Record of the Year
Personal life
Dorn had three sons, Michael Dorn, who operates his own furniture store in Philadelphia, David Dorn, Sr. Vice President New Media for Rhino Records, and Adam Dorn (aka Mocean WorkerMocean Worker
-Background:Philadelphia native Adam Dorn is the son of famous jazz and R'n'B producer Joel Dorn. He grew up around the jazz and R&B discs his father produced for Atlantic Records in the '60s and '70s. As a 15-year-old, he sent a fan letter to bassist Marcus Miller...
), a musician, and his wife Faye Rosen Dorn, a music publisher and A&R person . Joel died unexpectedly on the morning of December 17 of a heartattack in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
at his doctor's office. Joel had a memorial at Lincoln Center. Various artists performed, such as Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
and Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
.