Levinson, Peter J. 1934-2008

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born July 1, 1934, in Atlantic City, NJ; died of injuries from a fall, October 21, 2008, in Malibu, CA. Publicist, business owner, jazz writer, and biographer. By his own account, Levinson never intended to become an author, or even a publicist. He began his career as a freelance writer with a special interest in jazz music. He became a publicity agent in the music recording industry, specifically for Columbia Records in New York City, before focusing on individual artists, beginning with singer Jack Jones. More clients followed; as the owner of Levinson Communications, he represented singers from Rosemary Clooney to Art Garfunkel, but he became increasingly interested in musicians and bandleaders like Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, and Artie Shaw. Levinson handled publicity for film and television, too—from the film Kramer vs. Kramer to the popular television series Dallas, but music in general and big bands and jazz in particular remained his strength. Working with musicians on a regular basis gave Levinson a firsthand look at his clients, on stage and off, and he also learned a great deal about the music business. Toward the end of his career as a publicist, Levinson pondered the lives and careers of some musicians he had worked with over several years and had come to know especially well. He was able to produce three well-received biographies in his lifetime. These are Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James (1999), September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle (2001), and Tommy Dorsey: Livin' in a Great Big Way (2005). Levinson never stopped writing, even after Lou Gehrig's disease robbed him of the ability to speak. A fourth book, Puttin' On the Ritz: Fred Astaire and the Fine Art of Panache: A Biography (2009) appeared shortly after Levinson's death.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, October 23, 2008, p. B7.

New York Times, November 16, 2008, p. A35.