(Born: 8 January 1931, Berlin, Germany; Died: 25 October 1991, Vallejo, California, United States)

Promoter

Bill Graham was the P.T. Barnum of rock and roll, an unparalleled showman who forever revolutionized the symbiotic relationship between artists and audiences. A catalyst behind the rise of the San Francisco psychedelic scene of the late 1960s, he almost single- handedly pioneered the business of concert promotion, his fusion of theatricality and professionalism introducing new standards in sound, lighting and stage design. Famed for mixing acts of various musical and racial backgrounds on his bills, Graham nurtured the careers of superstars and cult favorites alike, his influence extending from small club dates to stadium tours and festivals; despite no musical talent of his own, he remains one of the truly seminal figures of the rock era…On the night of October 25, 1991, he and Bill Graham Presents staffers Steve Kahn and Melissa Gold were killed in a helicopter accident; a free concert dubbed  “Laughter, Love and Music” soon followed in their honor, headlined by Crosby, Stills, Nash &  Young, Santana, Aaron Neville and comedian Robin Williams. At the time of his death, Graham was  60 years old. — Jason Ankeny, All-Music Guide.  To buy Bill Graham Presents: My Life inside Rock and Out