George Mesrop Avakian is born in Armavir, Kuban People's Republic (now Russia), Europe. He will find success as record producer and manager
George Avakian. Best known for his work from 1939 to the early 1960s at
Decca Records,
Columbia Records, World Pacific Records, Warner Bros. Records, and RCA Records, Avakian will become a major force in the expansion and development of the recording industry in the USA. Avakian will work with artists including
Louis Armstrong,
Miles Davis,
Duke Ellington,
Benny Goodman,
Dave Brubeck, Eddie Condon,
Keith Jarrett,
Erroll Garner,
Buck Clayton, Sonny Rollins, Paul Desmond,
Edith Piaf, Bob Newhart,
Johnny Mathis and
Ravi Shankar.