George Wein Phones it In, Receives Award, Proclamation, and Key to the City

George Wein, famed music impresario and founder of the Newport Folk (1959) and Newport Jazz (1954) Festivals, was present in voice only as Mayor Jeanne Napolitano read a proclamation declaring August 7, 2010 as “George Wein Day.”

Done in by New York traffic, Mr. Wein, founder of Festival Productions, could not get to the reception in his honor given by the Council for International Visitors at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Other no shows, for varying reasons, included Didi Lorillard, descendant of the George Lorillards who helped Mr. Wein mount that first Newport Jazz Festival, and State Senator Teresa Paiva Weed. No matter: the event was a happy one, with State Representative Peter Martin, scholarship recipient Patrick Fogerty, CIV members , Kathryn Farrington of the NCCVB, Lois Vaughn, Dr. Deb Harris, and Tia and Ken Scigulinsky, all serenaded by the Dick Lupino Trio. Merrilee Zellner served as co-chair of the event, and Mr. Wein's assistants, Charles Thompson and Tim Tobin represented him.

Merrilee Zellner, Dr. Deb Harris, Lois Vaughn

President of the Newport CIV Tom Feeney spoke, thanking Mr. Wein for significantly contributing to the appreciation of American music around the world. “Through his efforts, he has attracted many international musicians and visitors to the City-by-the-Sea.,” Feeney said.

Mr. Wein, quite audible on the speaker phone, graciously thanked the Mayor, calling her a “doll”, and recalling a day at Fort Adams when she discovered that she had fear of high places.

The Dick Lupino Trio

The Newport Council for International Visitors is a community organization promoting global understanding through the exchange of ideas and shared experiences via education and people-to-people programs for international visitors and local residents. For information call Anne Huot at 401-847-9992.