Godfather of the Music Business

Discover the captivating story of Morris Levy, a pivotal figure in the evolution of popular music, in the book Godfather of the Music Business by Richard Carlin. Published by the University Press of Mississippi in 2016, this engaging paperback spans 304 pages and delves into Levy's remarkable journey. At just nineteen, he co-founded the iconic Birdland nightclub in Hell's Kitchen, which became a hotspot for the revolutionary bebop music genre. Levy was instrumental in operating one of the first integrated clubs on Broadway, where he played a crucial role in launching the careers of legendary artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell. Most notably, he was key to the resurgence of Count Basie, helping to shape the landscape of modern music. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the rich history of the music industry and the influential figures who helped define it.