Alfred Lion

German-born American record executive and producer. Co-Founder of the jazz label Blue Note with Max Margulis (briefly involved as a sleeping partner). His childhood friend Francis Wolff joined him later in 1939. Born April 21, 1908 in Berlin, Germany Died February 2, 1987 near San Diego, California He first visited the United States in the late 1920s, bought lots of records and settled in the New York area by 1938. Began recording traditional jazz in 1939 issuing records in the extended 12" 78 rpm format (usually reserved for classical music). From 1947, Lion began to record modern jazz with sessions led by Thelonious Monk. In the following twenty years, albums by artists such as Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy were released. Lion operated the company (with Francis Wolff) until he retired in 1967. It was sold to Liberty Records, Inc. in 1966.