by Timothy Rutt
John Levy, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and renowned personal manager for many jazz and soul legends, died in his Altadena home on Fri., Jan. 20, three months short of his 100th birthday.
Among his clients were Cannonball Adderley, Betty Carter, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Abbey Lincoln, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, George Shearing, Dakota Staton, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Williams, and Nancy Wilson.
According to Levy's website, www.lushlife.com, he died in his sleep in the arms of his wife, Devra Hall Levy.
Levy was born in New Orleans on April 11, 1912. A jazz bassist himself, he began his personal management career handling the affairs of the George Shearing Quartet in 1951. Working as both a performer and road manager, he gradually moved into personal management, and became the first African-American personal manager in the jazz industry.
Levy is survived by his wife, Devra Hall Levy; his son Michael Levy and daughter Pamela McRae, daughters Samara Levy and Jole Levy, fourteen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
On his website, according to Levy's wishes, there will be no funeral service, but donations may be made to the "MCG Jazz John Levy Fund," which is earmarked for the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild's nationwide "Jazz is Life" educational programs. We'll post more information on this as we get it.
Levy is the second Altadena music legend to die this week, joining Johnny Otis, who died Jan 17.
PIctured: Then-Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow, left, presents a commendation from the County Board of Supervisors to 97-year-old John Levy during the Sheriff Support Group Summer Concert Series, Aug. 15, 2009 at Farnsworth Park. Photo: Bill Westphal.
