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2011 Jazzonian Lifetime Achievement Award

Ed Bell

In recognition and appreciation for significant contributions and dedication in the service of Jazz, Jazzonian is extremely pleased to recognize South Florida radio icon, Ed Bell, as the recipient of the 2011 Jazzonian Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ed Bell produces and hosts South Florida Arts Beat on 91.3, WLRN bringing nearly forty years of experience and networking within the South Florida performing arts community to his exciting and informative radio show. There are few names in the media more supportive of South Florida's cultural arts organizations than Ed Bell. His efforts were awarded recently with a Society of Professional Journalist’s award in 2009 and that year he was also given an award by the Miami Beach Arts Trust as a Visionary of the Arts.

Bell has been involved in the local music scene since getting his start on the air at the University of Miami's WVUM in 1971. In the years that followed, he co-produced Jazz legend “Symphony Sid” Torin's show on the all Jazz, Blues and Rock formatted WBUS, Miami Beach, hosted live broadcasts of Jazz concerts on WTMI from the Airliner Jazz Club and as a soundman at the Airliner, he worked with Dexter Gordon, Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, pianist Bill Evans and a host of other Jazz legends. In the theater world, he worked as a sound designer at the Coconut Grove Playhouse from 1977 to 1980. Running the sound system for the Broadway tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ was a particular thrill.

Since starting at WLRN 91.3 FM in 1977, Ed has spearheaded many initiatives in support of South Florida's Jazz and Blues artists, especially in his work as a promoter and concert series producer. One of Ed's most distinguished efforts as a Jazz producer was his role as a principal co-founder of the Hollywood Jazz Festival. From 1983 to 1986, he turned the festival into a memorable weekend of television and live radio broadcasts of top local, national and internationally known Jazz musicians such as Eddie Harris, Shirley Horn, Ira Sullivan and Clifford Jordan among other American musical legends.

In his first twenty years at the station, Ed had been instrumental in making WLRN South Florida’s premier Jazz and Blues station. Soon after coming to WLRN, he began his Lunchtime Miami program featuring a broad history of great American music – Jazz, Blues and R & B. Each Friday, he produced a half-hour segment called “South Florida’s Own” that highlighted the work of the best local Jazz, Blues and R & B musicians. Interspersing his music presentations with intelligent interviews featuring international, national and local musicians and cultural arts leaders, the show became a unique presentation on the South Florida radio dial.

In June, 1995, local news magazine New Times deemed Ed as “Best Local Jazz Advocate” in its Best of South Florida issue. He brought his broadcast production expertise in January, 1999, to a new program called Topical Currents (This Weekend) broadening his radio presentations to include diverse cultural arts activities all over South Florida. That show is now called South Florida Arts Beat broadcasting regionally to four counties in South Florida (from Jupiter to Key West) and worldwide on WLRN’s Internet site (WWW.WLRN.ORG) every Friday at 1:00 pm, EST.

South Florida Arts Beat is a unique radio presentation on the South Florida airwaves featuring interviews, reviews and live musical performances. The show’s Executive Producer is Adrienne Kennedy, Special Projects Manager for WLRN. Contributors include humorist Buzz Fleischman (columnist for the Community Newspapers and The River Cities Gazette), Brandon K. Thorp (theater columnist for Broward/Palm Beach New Times), Richard Pachter (book reviewer for The Miami Herald’s Business Monday section), Charles Greenfield (classical contributor for the Miami Herald), Bob Weinberg (music critic for the Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, Miami and Broward New Times and Jazziz Magazine), Lee Zimmerman (music reviewer for the Miami New Times), Chris DeAngelis (Pop culture reviewer), and Judith Bishop (TV/Radio journalist) among other established local producers. Each program wraps up with an entertainment calendar filled with arts events and features contributors associated with various arts councils from a four county region, Deborah Margol (Deputy Director of the Miami-Dade County Dept. of Cultural Affairs), Michael Aller (Chief of Protocol/Director of Tourism and Conventions for Miami Beach), Jody Horne-Leshinsky (Marketing Director for the Broward Cultural Division), Bill Nix (V.P./Chief Program Officer for the Palm Beach County Cultural Council) and Andy Newman (Fla. Keys and Key West Tourism Development Council).

The South Florida arts community is now being heard each Friday at 1:00pm EST on 91.3, WLRN and on a worldwide basis at www.WLRN.Org and South Florida Arts Beat is leading the way!

Also see:
2011 Jazzonian Legacy Awards

Photos by Bobby Ramirez

 

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Letter from the Founder and President of Jazzonian: Bobby Ramirez

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2011 JAZZONIAN Legacy Awards
And the winners are: Ed Bell (WLRN), Lifetime Achievement; Phyllis Fee, Jazz Benefactor; and James Chism, Jazz Volunteer.

Excellence in Jazz Education
Jazzonian is very pleased to announce its 2011 Excellence in Jazz Education Award. This year's recipient is Mr. Christopher Dorsey, Band Director of the Jazz Orchestra at Dillard Center for the Arts.

A New Creative Way to Experience Jazz!
Jazzonian is pleased to announce its new innovative education program called TOUCH JAZZ.

JAZZONIAN Traveling Exhibit
As part of our commitment to inspire, educate, and bring people together, JAZZONIAN is available as a traveling exhibit to local community schools, institutions and organizations seeking to create more awareness of Jazz while celebrating the rich history of this unique American art form. If you would like JAZZONIAN to be part of your special event, contact Bobby Ramirez, info@jazzonian.org

About Latin Jazz
Jazzonian proudly presents Latin Jazz Player: a virtual educational cultural arts initiative produced by Bobby Ramirez that is part of the Jazzonian online multimedia experience honoring the great musicians that made significant contributions in helping to shape the sound of this classic American music artform. Latin Jazz Player also serves as a quick one-stop educational guide for music students, as well as helping music teachers articulate and present Latin Jazz as part of a school music curriculum.