Feather, Leonard, 1914-1994

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Composer, producer, pianist, and jazz journalist Leonard Geoffrey Feather was born in London, UK, on September 13, 1914. In the 1930s, he arranged, composed, and produced jazz sessions, and began to write about jazz for print media. He moved to New York City in 1935 and worked with Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington, establishing his reputation in various fields of jazz. He wrote for famous jazz journals and various books on jazz, and was particularly influential in promoting Bebop. In 1946, while working for Metronome, Feather created the blindfold test, an interview (with, most often, a jazz musician) during which Feather would play ten or twelve jazz tunes in current release and ask the interviewee for an on the spot review. The column moved with Feather to Down beat a few years later and remains one of that magazine's most popular features. Feather moved to Los Angeles in 1960, and became the chief jazz critic for the Los Angeles Times. He died on September 22, 1994.

From the description of Leonard Feather jazz collection, 1914-1994. (University of Idaho Library). WorldCat record id: 173846579

Leonard Geoffrey Feather was born in Hampstead, London, in 1914. He relocated to New York City in 1939. Journalist, producer, and composer, Mr. Feather is best known as a jazz critic. He wrote several books about jazz, including Inside Be-Bop (1949), the Encyclopedia of Jazz (1960), and the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, co-written with Ira Gitler, which was published posthumously, in 1999. His compositions include songs such as "Evil Gal Blues," "Blowtop Blues," "Mighty Like the Blues," and "How Blue Can You Get." Leonard created the "Blindfold Test" for Metronome magazine and later for DownBeat magazine. The test also became a segment of Feather's radio show "Platterbrains." It consisted of artists listening to a recording, without knowledge of the performer and then offering an opinion, this process often resulting in surprising results. He moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and critiqued jazz for the Los Angeles Times until his death. Mr. Feather died in Sherman Oaks, California, in 1994. For further information, see The Leonard Feather Scrapbooks, a website created by his daughter Lorraine Feather.

From the guide to the Leonard Feather Papers, 1900-1999, 1935-1990, (University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Johnny Green additional papers, 1923-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993. East of the sun [Multimédia multisupport] / Sarah Vaughan, chant... [et al.] ; Dizzy Gillespie, trp, Aaron Sachs, clar, Geo ; rgie Aud, saxo t... [et al.]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Feather, Leonard, 1914-1994. Leonard Feather jazz collection, 1914-1994. University of Idaho Library
referencedIn The Benny Goodman Papers, 1910-1992, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Milt Gabler Papers National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
referencedIn The Mel Powell Papers, 1942-1991, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Hilliard, Thomas. Thomas Hilliard papers, 1937-1967 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Arnold Gingrich Papers, 1932-1975 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hilliard, Thomas. Papers, 1937-1967 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn National Jazz Hall of Fame. Papers of the National Jazz Hall of Fame, 1983-1988. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Leonard Feather Papers, 1900-1999, 1935-1990 University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Festivals-Jazz Festival (Monterey) clippings 1958-2007 Monterey Public Library
referencedIn Duke Ellington recordings collection Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Vernon Duke Collection, 1918-1968 Library of Congress. Music Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Duke, Vernon, 1903-1969 person
correspondedWith Gingrich, Arnold. person
associatedWith Goodman, Benny, 1909- person
correspondedWith Green, Johnny, 1908-1989 person
associatedWith Hilliard, Thomas person
associatedWith Hilliard, Thomas. person
associatedWith Mel Powell person
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith National Jazz Hall of Fame. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Jazz
Jazz musicians
Journalism
Music
Music critics
Occupation
Composers
Activity

Person

Birth 1914-09-13

Death 1994-09-22

Americans

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