PHILIP LESHIN

LESHIN--Philip.

Stanley Crouch, president of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation sadly announced the passing of long-time Board publicist, Phil Leshin. Phil Leshin, musician, publicist, raconteur, ultimate New Yorker, passed peacefully November 11th. Phil was a publicist and musician whose eclectic career ranged from playing the acoustic bass, touring and recording with such seminal jazz figures as Buddy Rich (for 10 years), Claude Thornhill, Tommy Dorsey, Gerry Mulligan and Red Rodney; two decades as public- relations representative for jazz clubs such as the original Birdland, the Metropole, the Roundtable, the Village Gate, Michael's Pub, Fat Tuesday's, the Riverboat and he was the first publicist for the now well-established Blue Note. Leshin was also the publicist retained by promoter Sid Bernstein for the Beatles during the then comparatively unknown Liverpool group's initial 1964 Carnegie Hall appearance, and for subsequent concerts at Shea Stadium, as well as for the Rolling Stones first US appearance in 1965 at the 14th Street Academy of Music. He has also represented among several others such well known world personalities as Lionel Hampton (whom he represented for over 30 years), Tony Bennett, Lenny Bruce, the author James Leo Herlihy (of Midnight Cowboy fame); and in 1964 Leshin entered politics. Although a lifelong Democrat, he helped glamorize Mayoral candidate John V. Lindsay during his first run for City Hall, and later played a similar role in two gubernatorial campaigns for Nelson Rockefeller. In the 1970s he took a detour from his life as an independent publicist and accepted an appointment from New York City Correction Commissioner Benjamin J. Malcolm, as Deputy Commissioner of public affairs, playing a highly visible role in city government during a series of escapes, hostage situations, the incarceration of nursing homes czar Bernard Bergman, and the capture and subsequent trials of "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz; and particularly during the arrest and detaining of several thousand New Yorkers during the blackout and subsequent riots of 1976. After leaving city government he became Press Secretary to then Congressmen Leo C. Zeffiretti and Mario Biaggi, and later worked as press attache for the House of Representatives Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. Leshin was born in the Bronx, attended the Bronx High School of Science and New York University; served in the Army Air Corps Occupation Forces in Japan in 1946, in the special services division in Tokyo, producing musical shows and other entertainment for Allied troops. Nearly 40 years ago after a chance meeting in an elevator between his wife Joan Wolf, and the late Phoebe Jacobs (former Executive Vice President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation) Phil joined LAEF as its publicist. When it came to representing jazz, its makers and purveyors to the press, Phil knew what he was talking about. He leaves his beloved wife of 42 years, Joan, daughters Suzanne, Leslie and Tina. Phil was an uncle, grandfather, and best friend. Services were private.