Ralph Gleason only lived to be 58, but he had a very productive career. After graduating from Columbia University in 1938, Gleason was the founder and editor of Jazz Information, one of the first jazz magazines. He was originally a partisan for Dixieland and New Orleans jazz but always kept an open mind. Gleason was a regular contributor to Down Beat (1948-1961) and the San Francisco Chronicle (1950-1975). He also wrote for a variety of magazines including Stereo Review and Jazz. Gleason was the editor of a 1958 book, -Jam Session: An Anthology of Jazz, helped found the Monterey Jazz Festival with Jimmy Lyons, and was the host of the Jazz Casual television show (videos of which exist) in the 1960s. Gleason (who wrote many liner notes throughout the years) was always interested in popular music and he surprised many by not only founding Rolling Stone in 1967 but becoming its editor and embracing creative rock. However, his passion for jazz never lessened and Gleason (who was a vice president of Fantasy Records during 1970-1975) came out with a jazz book (-Celebrating the Duke) shortly before his premature death. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi