Leonard Feist, publisher and copyright expert, was the son of a ladies’ corset salesman and part-time songwriter turned music publisher. He was born on December 12, 1910 in Pelham, New York to Leo and Bessie Feist. After graduating from Yale in 1932 and completing a docorate in music at Columbia University, Feist joined his father’s company. When Leo Feist, Inc. was sold to MGM in the late 1930’s, Feist began a career as an independent publisher. On December 6, 1937, Feist married Mary Regensburg, a well-known New York City interior designer, with whom he had two daughters--Linda and Betsy.
During his career as a music publisher, Feist was involved in the publication of concert, educational and sacred music. He was the first American publisher of Igor Stravinsky, represented Paul Hindemith and Arnold Schoenberg in the United States and published the works of ten Pulitzer Prize winners. In 1956, he assumed the presidency of Associated Music Publishers, Inc, and in 1966, he became president of the National Music Publishers’ Association.
Feist became known for his work in Washington, D.C as an advocate on behalf of the music publishing industry. His first successful foray into legislative activity occurred in the early 1950s when he successfully supported the inclusion of printed material under the U.S. Postal Services “book rates.” He worked extensively in helping to draft the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act. Feist was instrumental in shaping various other provisions of the new law that impacted music publishing. As a well-regarded expert on international copyright, Feist served as an advisor to the United States Delegation to the Berne Convention Revision Conference. He assisted in advising on matters of international copyright revisions. In 1980, he published An Introduction to Popular Music Publishing in America, which illustrates publishers’ role in the music business.
Throughout his professional life, Feist was an integral part of the leadership in a number of organizations. He served as President of the National Music Council, President of the Century Music Publishing, President of Mercury Music Corporation and Vice-President of the National Academy of Popular Music (which sponsors the Songwriters Hall of Fame). Feist was the recipient of many awards including the Degree of Honorary Doctor of Music conferred by the Peabody Institute of Music.
From the guide to the Leonard Feist papers, 1901-1991, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)
