Fact #187102

Graphic designer Alex Steinweiss dies aged 94 in Sarasota, Florida, USA. During World War II, Steinweiss became Columbia Records' advertising manager. During a lunch meeting at Columbia in New York City, company president, Ted Wallerstein, introduced Steinweiss to an innovation that the company was about to unveil: the long-playing record. Wallerstein asked Steinweiss to develop a jacket for the new format and, with help from his brother-in-law, Steinweiss found a manufacturer willing to invest about $250,000 in equipment. Steinweiss established the original patent for what became the industry packaging standard, but under his contract with Columbia he had to waive all rights to any inventions made while working there. His first cover was for a 1939 collection of songs by Rodgers and Hart. Having thus virtually invented the album cover, Steinweiss remained active until 1973, during which time he is thought to have designed roughly 2500 covers, including a striking anti-Nazi sleeve for Paul Robeson's 1942 album Songs Of Free Men.