Norman Granz

Country: Switzerland
Company: Music
Born in Los Angeles, Granz was the son of Jewish immigrants from Tiraspol. Granz was acknowledged as "the most successful impresario in the history of jazz" Granz is also known for his anti-racist position and forintegrating audiences. When America joined t h e Second World War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force. Subsequently, he was posted to the Morale branch, the department charged withtroops entertainment. He then emerged into the public view when he organised desegregated jam sessions at the Trouville Club in Los Angeles, which he later ex- panded when he staged a memorable concert at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 2, 1944, under the heading of "Jazz at the Philharmonic". It was in 1956 that the popular singer Ella Fitzgerald finally joined Norman Granz's label. Granz had been her manager for some time, and unified his activities under the common label of Verve Records. Granz became Fitzgerald's manager, and remained so until the end of her career. Fitzgerald's memorable series of eight Song- books, together with the duet series (notably Armstrong-Peterson, Fitzgerald-Basie, Fitzgerald-Pass and Getz-Peterson) achieved wide popularity and brought acclaim to the label and to theartists. Granzwas also themanager of Oscar Peterson, another life- long friend. In 1959, Norman Granz moved to Switzerland. In December 1960, Verve Records was sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
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