This the first in our interview series of music influencers.
Shelley Lazar, a Music in Schools Today (MuST) Board member since 1995, has been dubbed “the mastermind behind rock royalty’s all-access passes” by Vanity Fair magazine. A colleague of rock impresario Bill Graham since the late 60’s, Shelley worked as a New York City schoolteacher and administrator for twenty years before moving to San Francisco in 1990 at Bill Graham’s request. She was Vice President/Artist Relations and Special Events Director at Bill Graham Presents (BGP). Immediately after Bill Graham’s death in 1991, Shelley became Founding Director of the Bill Graham Foundation. In 2002, she started her own entertainment services company, SLO Limited. In April, 2008, SLO was purchased by Ticketmaster and is now called SLO VIP Ticket Services, a division of Ticketmaster.
SVR: Tell us about your first experience with music education.
Shelley: At my first Spring Concert as a teacher/conductor of fourth graders in 1970 – My class was playing “The Good Old Duke of York” on their recorders and there was no one to play the cymbals. Solution? I tied a cymbal to each knee and became the solo cymbalist as I conducted an orchestra of giggling 10-year olds! I had a great love and heartfelt joy in teaching young children. Music was always a major component of the day’s activities and lessons (classical, folk, opera, ethnic, rock and pop).
SVR: How did you meet Bill Graham?
Shelley: Bill Graham entered my life during his Fillmore East days. I worked with him on world tours and special concert events that he promoted (The Rolling Stones, Amnesty International Concerts for Human Rights, Live Aid, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, etc.). In 1990, after working full-time in two different fields for over two decades, Bill convinced me to move to San Francisco and work as a full-timer BGP staffer! After his tragic death in 1991, we established the Bill Graham Foundation in order to continue Bill’s philanthropy and to continue to have his name associated with music and cultural arts in the schools. It was his charitable “passion,” as it has always been mine. He unstintingly provided music scholarships, after-school art, dance and poetry programs, ticket donations to schools and benefits that would raise dollars and awareness of the need for the arts in schools.
SVR: Why is it important to support music education for kids?
Shelley:
I feel that by supporting music education, I am not only fostering an interest in music and an enthusiasm for concertgoers, which certainly enhances my business, but I am also fostering the myriad of benefits that children receive from music education…their physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth.
SVR :What are you up to now?
Shelley:
SLO VIP Ticket Services has had an extremely busy 2008! We just finished working with George Michael, Rod Stewart, Linkin Park, Paul McCartney’s concert in Tel Aviv, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the VH1 Rock Honors, MTV Music Video Awards and MTV Movie Awards shows, Pope Benedict’s Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium and we are currently working on the Tina Tuner, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, The Who, Lionel Richie, John Legend, Andre Rieu, Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton and Pink world tours. I have worked with the Rolling Stones since the early 80’s and I am hopeful that, once again, we will all be able to “experience” the “world’s greatest rock & roll band” in 2009!! And…let’s not forget Led Zeppelin!!
SVR: OMG, Led Zeppelin? Can you tell me more?
Shelley: Nothing more to tell other than it’s being seriously discussed…
