Sid Bernstein (impresario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sid Bernstein
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Bernstein in 2009
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Sidney Bernstein
August 12, 1918 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | August 21, 2013 (aged 95) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | music promoter, talent manager, author |
| Spouse(s) | Geraldine Bernstein |
| Children | 6 (4 sons and 2 daughters) |
Sidney Bernstein (born August 12, 1918, died August 21, 2013) was an American music promoter. This means he helped organize concerts and tours for famous musicians. He also managed talented artists and wrote books. Sid Bernstein made a huge impact on American music in the 1960s. He was the person who brought legendary bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to America. He was also the first to hold big rock concerts in sports stadiums!
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Sid Bernstein's Amazing Career
Sidney Bernstein was born in New York City in 1918. He was adopted by a Russian Jewish family. He studied journalism at Columbia University. Later, he joined the US Army in 1943 during World War II. He served in Britain and France.
After the war, he returned to New York. He became a manager for the mambo musician Esy Morales. He also worked as a booking agent, helping artists find places to perform. In the early 1960s, he worked for General Artists Corporation (GAC). There, he booked popular stars like Dion and Chubby Checker.
Bringing the Beatles to America
Sid Bernstein played a key role in the "British Invasion" of music. He was the first promoter to bring the Beatles from Britain to the United States. He loved British culture. He read about the Beatles in British newspapers in early 1963.
He contacted their manager, Brian Epstein. Sid convinced Epstein that the Beatles could be a hit in the US. He booked Carnegie Hall for their first show. He did this without even hearing their music! He also didn't tell the venue what kind of music they played.
In late 1963, the Beatles were still unknown in America. But Sid helped spread their music. DJs in Virginia played their songs constantly. They gave away shirts and other items to promote the band. By January 1964, the same thing happened in New York City.
On February 12, 1964, the Beatles played two concerts at Carnegie Hall. This was just three days after their famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Sid Bernstein also booked them at Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965. He said the sound at that show was "inaudible" because the fans screamed so loudly!
The Beatles stopped touring in 1966. They broke up in 1970. Sid tried many times to get them to perform together again. He even took out full-page newspaper ads asking them to reunite for charity.
Working with Other Famous Bands
During the Beatles' Shea Stadium concert, Sid Bernstein promoted another band. He had the words "the Rascals are coming!" displayed on the scoreboard. He had met the Rascals in 1965.
Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, demanded the scoreboard message be turned off. But this didn't stop Sid from working with the Rascals for five years. He helped this New Jersey band become famous. He even changed their name from "the Rascals" to "the Young Rascals" to avoid confusion with another group.
Sid Bernstein also brought other British bands to America. These included the Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, the Moody Blues, and the Kinks. He organized concerts for many other artists too. Some of these were Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, and Sly & the Family Stone.
James Brown said that Sid Bernstein was a leader in "race relations." This was because he booked African-American musicians in the 1960s. In 1964, he brought many Israeli singers to the US. They performed their first major concerts, including shows at Carnegie Hall. Sid was also the first to put on a rock show at Madison Square Garden.
In 1972, he worked with Shirley MacLaine. They put together a huge variety show in just ten days. It featured over 50 musicians.
Later Life and Legacy
Sid Bernstein passed away on August 21, 2013. He was in Manhattan, New York. He died nine days after his 95th birthday. He was survived by his wife, Geraldine Gale. He also had four sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
Sid Bernstein wrote or coauthored some books. He also released his first album as a singer at age 93. It was called Sid Bernstein Presents... and came out in 2012.
A documentary film was made about Sid Bernstein's life and career. It is called Sid Bernstein Presents.... The film first showed in New Zealand in February 2010.
