MIKE LANIN

LANIN--Mike. President of Howard Lanin Productions passed away in New York on April 14, 2014 at age 90. In 1952 Mike hired a 22-year old conductor for a nationwide Gershwin concert tour that ran for two seasons (1952-54) and played in 170 cities. His name: Lorin Maazel. It was the only orchestra in history dedicated exclusively to the music of one composer. Mike pursued his interest in George Gershwin in collaboration with Michael Feinstein. Mike, a well-known producer of shows for large corporations (IBM, Coca Cola, CBS, AT&T) hired star performers such as Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Diahann Carroll, Leslie Uggams, Lena Horne, Bob Hope, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Bolger, Doc Severinsen and Bill Cosby among others. Memorable productions Mike presented include The Royal Danish Ballet in its US debut and The Conservatory Without Walls, a glittering event in honor of the country's greatest Afro-American musicians which launched the Duke Ellington Fellowship Fund at Yale University. Mike also served on the board of The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Mike Lanin was born in Philadelphia on March, 8, 1924, the son of the band leader Howard Lanin and the nephew of Lester Lanin, the internationally known society band leader. During World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. At that time he discovered a young and talented pianist, still unknown, Bobby Short. They became friends for the rest of their lives. Mike was a graduate of Yale University where he was an imaginative caricaturist for the Yale Record. He is also remembered for his fond portrayal of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Mike was an elegant man both in appearance and in spirit. He was always courteous, soft spoken, never one to boast of his many achievements and of his friendships with famous artists. He was a loyal friend, a witty but considerate companion with a dry sense of humor. He was an entertaining guest. Mike has been called "the dean of entertainment who pioneered the theme party, the pops concert, the anniversary revue and the multimedia production." He was an avid reader and traveler. He kept homes in New York and Paris. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, the love of his life, Yvonne Constant-Lanin, a performer herself and a frequent guest (45 times) on the Johnny Carson Show. It was always a pleasure to see how much Mike enjoyed his wife's performances. He was proud of her interpretations of French and American songs. At her recitals he would greet friends with a radiant smile. He was also proud of Yvonne having been named "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres", an important French cultural award. Other immediate survivors include his sister, Suzanne Lande, his adopted daughter Kristina Stufano from a previous marriage, his stepson, Gerard Pinguet and numerous grandchildren.