Background
Avakian was born in Armavir, Russia, to Armenian parents.
Avakian was born in Armavir, Russia, to Armenian parents.
The elder Avakian attended Yale University, and became an avid collector and fan of jazz music
While still at Yale he was responsible for the first reissues Columbia put out around 1940, discovering some unissued Louis Armstrong masters from his Hot Five and Hot Seven period in the process. He later produced some of Armstrong"s most important albums of the traditional jazz revival era, including Louis Armstrong Plays West. C. Handy. His annotations were noted for the education they provided to their listeners.
To expand on this concept, in 1946, Avakian started a course in jazz history at Columbia University.
His long tenure at Columbia Records culminated in his becoming responsible for the Popular Music and International divisions. During that time, Avakian introduced the LP record format created by Columbia engineers and produced the industry"s first 100 long-playing discs of popular music and jazz.
He also produced the first live LP—Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. While at Columbia, Avakian signed and produced Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Mathis, Rita Reys, and Erroll Garner to the label, among others
In 1959 he was hired as one of the founding A&R managers for the newly established Warner Brothers
Records and also worked as a producer for Radio Corporation of America Victor. In 1960-1961 he produced recordings by Bill Haley & His Comets for Warner Brothers Records. In 1962 he was responsible for organizing Benny Goodman"s successful tour of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. From about 1970 to 1974, he was the manager of Keith Jarrett.
Before this, he managed the Charles Lloyd Quartet of which Jarrett was a member.
After this, he largely retired from the record business and bred racehorses. His awards over the past years include:
2011 – Added to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Jazz Wall of Fame as a Living Legend Giant of Jazz
2010 – National Endowments for the Arts Bachelor of Arts Spellman Jazz Advocacy Award.
The nations highest honor in Jazz for his work as a Producer, Manager, Critic, Jazz Historian and Educator. 2008 – France awarded the rank of Commandeur des Arts et Lettres in recognition of his significant contributions to the arts
2006 – Europe’s prestigious jazz award, the Django d’Or
1990 – The former Soviet Union’s highest decoration, the Order of Lenin
1984 – Knighthood from the Knights of Malta
The Avakians have three children: Maro, Anahid and Gregory.
Additionally, he signed Bob Newhart, producing the first comedy album to win a Best Album Grammy Award. Avakian bred champion pacer Presidential Balliol He is a founding officer of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (presenters of the Grammy Awards). 2009 – The Trustees Lifetime Achievement Award (Grammy) from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences for contributions to the music industry worldwide. 2000 – A Lifetime Achievement award from Down Beat Magazine Avakian is married to violinist Anahid Ajemian, and the two, together with Ajemian"s pianist sister Maro Ajemian, were crucial in helping classical composer Alan Hovhaness achieve his international breakthrough in the 1950s, through concert performances and through Avakian securing numerous LP recordings.
