Joe Glaser
Joseph G. Glaser (December 17, 1896 – June 6, 1969)[1][2] was an artist manager known for his involvement in the careers of jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.
Biography
[edit]Glaser was the son of a Chicago family of Russian Jewish origins.[3][4][5] After a series of irregular jobs (fight promoter, club manager), with the help of his alleged mob connections he started managing Louis Armstrong in May 1935. The success of their association caused other jazz musicians to join Glaser and his agency known as the Associated Booking Corporation which "was formed in 1940 by Joe Glaser and Louis Armstrong".[6] The relation of Glaser and Armstrong has been represented as a prominent element in Terry Teachout's theater play Satchmo at the Waldorf.
Although his clients had a high opinion of him,[7] Glaser was a feared person in the business industry. Associated Booking Corporation, or "ABC" as it is also known, was incorporated on June 26, 1943, and is still in existence today.[8] It has represented Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Barbra Streisand, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers Band, T. Rex, The Platters and many others.[9]
Death
[edit]Glaser died on June 6, 1969, at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City after suffering a stroke. He was 72.
FBI file
[edit]After his death in 1969, Glaser's FBI file – CR 166-1672 – was shipped over to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations sometime between its start in 1976 and its final report in 1979. While the file was sent to the committee in the belief that Glaser had known Jack 'Sparky' Rubenstein (better known as Jack Ruby) from his Chicago days, that file revealed that Glaser was still doing some boxing promotion as late as 1966, representing Ernie Terrell in a proposed 1966 boxing match against the then Cassius Clay.[10] The Muhammad Ali vs. Ernie Terrell fight did not take place until February 6, 1967. Glaser was a mentor to Clarence Avant.
References
[edit]- ^ Obituary, New York Times, May 17, 1969, p. 33; "Joseph G. Glaser Is Dead at 72; Booking Agent For Many Stars," New York Times, June 8, 1969, p. 92
- ^ "Satchmo Remembers the Big Magaffa," Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1969, p. G44.
- ^ Bergreen, Laurence, "Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life", page 374
- ^ Teachout, Terry (November 2009). "Satchmo and the Jews". Commentary. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ Fax, Tayla (April 14, 2016). "The Secret Jewish History of Louis Armstrong". The Forward.
- ^ Cohen, Jane; Grossweiner, Bob (10 February 2006). "Industry Profile: Lisa Cohen, Associated Booking Corporation". Celebrity Access.
- ^ "I always admired Mr. Glaser from the first day I started working with him" Louis Armstrong wrote in 1943. Bergreen, Laurence, "Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life", page 278
- ^ ABC homepage
- ^ Cohen, Jane; Grossweiner, Bob (10 February 2006). "Industry Profile: Lisa Cohen, Associated Booking Corporation". Celebrity Access.
- ^ "FBI – HSCA Subject File: Joe Glaser". Mary Ferrell Foundation.
Further reading
[edit]- Bergreen, Laurence, "Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life". 1997 ISBN 0-553-06768-0
- Holiday, Billie and Dufty, William, "Lady sings the blues". 1956 ISBN 978-0-14-006762-0
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