A Biography of Willis Conover

[garthsj]

Here is a long ovedue biography of Willis Conover, the man who boosted the reputation of the United States by showcasing jazz via The Voice of America. Many was the night in Cape Town in the fifties when I tuned in my large salvaged shortwave radio, hoping for decent reception, (the broadcast was not aimed at Southern Africa) and listened to Conover. He, perhaps more than anyone else, is responsible for my interest in jazz ...

http://tinyurl.com/32qlvp

[Chuck Nessa]

Sadly, much of his work has been "undone".

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Here is a long ovedue biography of Willis Conover, the man who boosted the reputation of the United States by showcasing jazz via The Voice of America. Many was the night in Cape Town in the fifties when I tuned in my large salvaged shortwave radio, hoping for decent reception, (the broadcast was not aimed at Southern Africa) and listened to Conover. He, perhaps more than anyone else, is responsible for my interest in jazz ...

http://tinyurl.com/32qlvp

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. What a fabulous life he led....and what an immense fan base he had out there!!! Over the years, I never heard anything but total praise for him from various VOA employees with whom I had a relationship -- same with RFE/RL for that matter. Looking forward to buying this book!!

[ghost of miles]

Thanks for the tip that this is out, garthsj--been anticipating this one.

[Ken Dryden]

Willis Conover was also responsible for assembling a great jazz lineup for the initial New Orleans Jazz Festival. Now jazz is second tier behind headliners like Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart, making the name of the festival the worst kind of false advertising.

[JPF]

Read this posting from Doug Ramsey's Rifftides blog. Essential piece about WC.