We have a few Havenites that have posted photos from the Detroit Jazz festival, and I couldn't believe it when I was told it was free. Jealous in fact.
Now I know how that was done, by way of the obituary sent out by Mack Avenue Records. Excerpts below:
Known by many in the arts community as the “Angel of Jazz,” Gretchen C. Valade will be
remembered for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, culture, and business landscape of Metro Detroit and the global jazz community. As chairman emeritus of Carhartt, Inc. and
granddaughter to the founder of the family-owned workwear company, Valade combined her
sharp business acumen, her lifelong love of jazz, and her devotion and commitment to the city of Detroit to establish a foundation for the arts in 2006 ensuring Detroit’s annual jazz festival remained the largest free festival of its kind in North America.
“Angel of Jazz”
Valade’s love of music began at an early age. She played piano and wrote songs her entire life. She credited her older sisters, Eugenie, and Patricia, with introducing her to the music of Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, and other artists who inspired her affinity for jazz. She said her real jazz education resulted from exploring New York’s iconic jazz clubs and hearing the industry’s finest musicians.
In 1999, at the age of 74, Valade combined her entrepreneurial spirit with her lifelong love of
jazz by founding the recording label Mack Avenue Records which subsequently earned over 50 Grammy Awards nominations and was awarded eleven Grammy wins. Her commitment to the label’s performers and their quality of life was at the forefront of her passions and future
endeavors.
Music Legacy of Detroit
When the Detroit Jazz Festival lost its primary sponsor, Valade established a foundation in 2006 to ensure the festival remained free of charge for the city and its patrons. She declined to add her name or record label to the festival's naming rights, explaining, "It's important that the Detroit Jazz Festival remain accessible to all that want to enjoy listening and celebrating
Detroit's rich history of jazz. People may reference that it's my festival, but it's not. This festival belongs to the people and city of Detroit."
Now I know how that was done, by way of the obituary sent out by Mack Avenue Records. Excerpts below:
Known by many in the arts community as the “Angel of Jazz,” Gretchen C. Valade will be
remembered for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, culture, and business landscape of Metro Detroit and the global jazz community. As chairman emeritus of Carhartt, Inc. and
granddaughter to the founder of the family-owned workwear company, Valade combined her
sharp business acumen, her lifelong love of jazz, and her devotion and commitment to the city of Detroit to establish a foundation for the arts in 2006 ensuring Detroit’s annual jazz festival remained the largest free festival of its kind in North America.
“Angel of Jazz”
Valade’s love of music began at an early age. She played piano and wrote songs her entire life. She credited her older sisters, Eugenie, and Patricia, with introducing her to the music of Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, and other artists who inspired her affinity for jazz. She said her real jazz education resulted from exploring New York’s iconic jazz clubs and hearing the industry’s finest musicians.
In 1999, at the age of 74, Valade combined her entrepreneurial spirit with her lifelong love of
jazz by founding the recording label Mack Avenue Records which subsequently earned over 50 Grammy Awards nominations and was awarded eleven Grammy wins. Her commitment to the label’s performers and their quality of life was at the forefront of her passions and future
endeavors.
Music Legacy of Detroit
When the Detroit Jazz Festival lost its primary sponsor, Valade established a foundation in 2006 to ensure the festival remained free of charge for the city and its patrons. She declined to add her name or record label to the festival's naming rights, explaining, "It's important that the Detroit Jazz Festival remain accessible to all that want to enjoy listening and celebrating
Detroit's rich history of jazz. People may reference that it's my festival, but it's not. This festival belongs to the people and city of Detroit."
