Obituary
George Wein, Who Brought Jazz Festivals to Newport, Dies at 95
- The annual music event on Rhode Island’s coast started in 1954
- He also set up the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
George Wein, the creator of the Newport Jazz Festival who gave the genre a wider following by luring music legends from small clubs to perform outdoors for larger and younger audiences, has died. He was 95.
He died Monday at his home in Manhattan, according to the New York Times, citing spokesperson Carolyn McClair. No cause was given.