Sonny Lester

Sonny Lester (* November 15, 1924 in New York City ) is an American music producer.

Life and work

Lester began as a trumpeter in big bands of the swing before he was drafted in 1943 and spent World War II in the infantry in Europe, where it partially also played in the band of the 84th Infantry Division. Back in New York he married and worked as a studio musician and arranger, from 1954 in music publishing Edwin Morris Music, where he collected sheet music and one of the first Play-Along plates produced, which was a success ( Play or sing along with the NBC Rhythm Section ). Then he moved to the A & R team at Coral Records. In 1958 he went with Bob Thiele to Dot Records, where he produced concerts in the Town Hall and the resulting Jazz Horizons albums. The next year he went to Top Rank Records, where he worked on the productions of newcomers such as Jack Scott, The Fireballs and the Knightsbridge Strings, but also by Raymond Scott. Then he worked as an independent producer and was for after -hours series of Time ( Urbie Green After Hours: Middle East) responsible for the Fantabulous Strings albums by MGM or Belly Dance Album on roulette.

In 1966, he founded United Artists with Phil Ramone for Manny Albam and the new jazz label Solid State, which he directed. As the label ceased its activity in 1970, he created his own label, Groove Merchant, Jimmy McGriff for, Junior Parker, Lucky Thompson, Jeremy Steig and Chick Corea recordings. Then he founded the Lester Recording Corporation, with which he also produced for Naxos. The mid-1980s, he worked successfully for Denon Jazz. Since the 1990s, Lester markets its catalog from Florida.