Jazz expert and author Richard Havers dies

The writer, all round jazz knowledge, jazz consultant at Universal and Editor-in-Chief of the udiscovermusic website, Richard Havers has died after a short illness.  

After spending twenty years working in the airline industry, Richard decided to pursue his passion for music. He worked in advertising, broadcast radio and as a concert producer for mainstream artists that included Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, Chicago and America.

As a writer, Richard’s bibliography is extensive and his books about music included Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey, which won the Blues Foundation’s Award For Literature in 2002.  He was known for his work with the Rolling Stones, co-authoring Rolling with the Stones (2003), and The Stones – A History in Cartoons (2006) with Bill Wyman plus The Stones in the Park (2009) about the band’s pivotal 1969 concert.  His association with the Jazz FM Award winning legends didn’t stop there, compiling and editing Rolling Stones 50, the band’s official anniversary book in 2012 plus his final book was the first official, in-depth history of the Rolling Stones told through the band’s television and radio broadcasts called “Rolling Stones on Air in the Sixties”

Along with biographies on so many other musicians and personalities, his 2004 biography 'Sinatra', according to Marella Fostrup on BBC Radio 4, stood out as “…one of the best books ever written about Frank Sinatra.”

But in the jazz community, Richard will be known for his seminal authorities on jazz labels 'Verve – The Sound of America' and the 2013 book on the American record label Blue Note Records 'Uncompromising Expression', which told the story of 75 years of legendary label.

Richard also produced box sets for Universal Music, including, '100 Years of the Blues', as well as 'Satchmo: Louis Armstrong – Ambassador of Jazz' (10 CD box set and 200 page illustrated biography), 'Ella – The Voice of Jazz', 'Verve – The Sound of America', 'Blue Note’s Uncompromising Expression' and a 10 CD career retrospective of Nat King Cole in 2015. 

Jazz FM’s Chris Philips wrote says “I’m devastated to learn of Richard’s passing He wrote several truly awesome jazz publications as well as superb biographical books. Moreover, he was admirable because of his unquestionable passion and enthusiasm for music. I had many lovely conversations off and on microphone with Richard and I am truly shocked by his sudden passing.”