Wein was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1925, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Barnet M. Wein, both his parents were ethnically Jewish. A graduate of Newton High School, Wein was a jazz pianist in his youth and while studying at Boston University led a small group which played professionally around the Boston area. After serving in the army during World War II, he graduated from Boston University's College of Liberal Arts in 1950. That same year, he opened a jazz club called Storyville and established a Storyville record label. He also began to teach a course at Boston University on the history of jazz. In 1954 Newport residents Louis and Elaine Lorillard invited him to organize a festival in their hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, with funding to be provided by them; the subsequent festival was the first outdoor jazz festival in the United States and became an annual tradition in Newport. Wein went on to start a number of festivals in other cities, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, and also established the Newport Folk Festival. In the 60s he set up Festival Productions, a company dedicated to promoting large-scale jazz events.
Wein pioneered the idea of corporate sponsorship for his events, and his "Schlitz Salute to Jazz" and "Kool Jazz Festival" were the first Jazz events to feature title sponsors, Schlitz beer and Kool cigarettes. Festival Productions' feature event is now called "the JVC Jazz Festival at Newport", and the company runs JVC Jazz Festivals in cities around including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, Warsaw, and Tokyo. Other title sponsors of Festival Productions events include Mellon Bank, Essence Magazine, Verizon, Ben & Jerry's, and Dunkin' Donuts.
Wein has received a wide array of honors for his work with jazz concerts. He received the Patron of the Arts Award from the Studio Museum of Harlem in 1995, and in 2004 was recognized with an Impact Award from the AARP. He was decorated with France's Légion d'honneur and appointed a Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Commander of the Order of Arts and Literature) by the French government. He has been honored at the White House by two American presidents, Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Bill Clinton in 1993. In 2005 he was named a "Jazz Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts. His autobiography, Myself Among Others: A Life in Music was singled out as 2004's best book about jazz by the Jazz Journalists Association. Wein has received honorary degrees from the Berklee College of Music and Rhode Island College of Music, and is a lifetime Honorary Trustee of Carnegie Hall.
George Wein is a distinguished member of the Board of Directors Advisory committee of The Jazz Foundation of America He has also performed and presented at The Jazz Foundation's benefit / concert "A Great Night in Harlem". He presented the "Saint of Jazz Award to Harry Elias of JVC America along with Bill Cosby in 2002.
Once in a While
George Wein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One little thought to me
Though someone else may be
Nearer your heart?
Once in a while will you dream
Of the moments I shared with you
Moments before we two
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
That spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
The spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
The song "Once in a While" by George Wein is a poignant and bittersweet expression of a love that has faded but still lingers on in memory. The singer is asking their former lover to think of them "once in a while," to remember the moments they shared even though they are now apart. Despite the fact that the other person may have moved on to someone else, the singer still holds onto the hope that their love may be rekindled, that the "spark" may "burn again."
The lyrics use powerful imagery to convey the depth of the singer's feelings. Love is compared to a "smoldering ember," a metaphor that suggests that the intensity of the relationship has faded, but that there is still the possibility of reigniting the flame. The phrase "one spark may remain" is particularly evocative, suggesting that even a tiny glimmer of hope can keep the flame alive. The use of the word "contented" at the end of the song is also interesting, as it suggests a kind of resigned acceptance of the situation. The singer may not be able to be with their former lover, but they can still find comfort in the memories of what once was.
Overall, "Once in a While" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the complexities and nuances of love and loss. Its poignant lyrics and haunting melody have made it a classic in the American songbook.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a while will you try to give
Can you spare some time and effort for me every now and then?
One little thought to me
Just a single moment of consideration or reflection on who I am to you.
Though someone else may be
Even if there is someone else who is closer or dearer to you in heart and mind.
Nearer your heart?
Do I still mean something to you, even if not as much as others?
Once in a while will you dream
Do I still linger in your thoughts when you're asleep and your subconscious reigns?
Of the moments I shared with you
Can you recall and relive the times we spent together, just for a moment?
Moments before we two
The moments that were shared just between us, before we became apart.
Drifted apart?
Before we became distant and disconnected from each other.
In love's smoldering ember
Even if our love has faded and died down to a low flame.
One spark may remain
There is still a chance, however small, that love may reignite.
If love still can remember
If the memory and emotions of love still persist, even years after the fact.
That spark may burn again
There is hope that the passion and romance can be rekindled and brought back to life.
I know that I'll be contented
Even if we don't reconnect, I will be satisfied with how things used to be.
With yesterday's memory
The bittersweet, nostalgic memories of when we were together.
Knowing you think of me
Just the knowledge that you haven't completely forgotten about me means a lot.
Once in a while
Even if it's infrequent and irregular, just a few moments of thought or reminiscence are enough to bring comfort and solace.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrJimmienoone
Outstanding. Tasteful, sophisticated, great singing by George Wein.
Joe Carbery
Lovely voice. Never knew he could sing so well.
Scott Robinson
Beautiful.
Jim Denham
RIP George