Herbert Kupferberg
Herbert Kupferberg was a prominent music critic and author, born on January 20, 1918, in New York City. He began his academic journey at Cornell University, earning his first degree in 1939, and continued at Columbia University, where he obtained master's degrees in English and journalism by 1941. His career in journalism commenced with various roles, including a copy editor position at the New Bedford Standard Times and a lengthy tenure at the New York Herald Tribune, where he held multiple editorial positions for over two decades. Following the Herald Tribune's closure in 1966, Kupferberg became a senior editor at Parade Magazine. He was also an accomplished author, writing notable nonfiction books primarily focused on classical music, including titles like *The Mendelssohns: Three Generations of Genius* and *Basically Bach: A Three Hundredth Birthday Celebration*. In addition to his books, he contributed articles to respected publications such as The Atlantic Monthly and Cue. Kupferberg passed away in Manhattan on February 26, 2001, leaving behind a legacy in music criticism and literature.
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Herbert Kupferberg
Nonfiction Writer and Biographer
- Born: January 20, 1918
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: February 22, 2001
- Place of death: Manhattan, New York
Biography
Herbert Kupferberg, music critic and author, was born in New York City on January 20, 1918. He began his education at Cornell University, where he earned his first degree in 1939. Following Cornell, he attended Columbia University and had earned master’s degrees in both English and journalism by 1941.
After his graduation, Kupferberg took up assorted journalism jobs. He worked as a copy editor for the New Bedford Standard Times as well as for the New York Herald Tribune. He climbed the ranks at the New York Herald Tribune for over twenty years, holding a variety of different editorial positions. After the newspaper folded in 1966, he joined the staff of Parade Magazine, where he eventually became a senior editor.
Aside from his work in periodicals, Kupferberg also established himself as an author of books. His nonfiction covered different subjects, but focused primarily on classical and other forms of music throughout history. His books include The Mendelssohns: Three Generations of Genius, Basically Bach: A Three Hundredth Birthday Celebration, and Amadeus: A Mozart Mosaic.
In addition to his books and newspaper work, Kupferberg also found time to write articles for The Atlantic Monthly, Cue, and The National Observer. After a long and successful career, Kupferberg died in Manhattan on February 26, 2001.