Photo: Mark Sarfati - sarfati@osw.com http://osw.com / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bill Graham was born in Berlin, Margraviate of Brandenburg on January 8, 1931. Public records list Bill Graham as an impresario, concert production and music promoter. Death is recorded on October 25, 1991, at the age of 60. Education on record includes DeWitt Clinton High School. Listed accolades include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1992).
My Take
Bill Graham is the kind of behind-the-scenes giant I think people underrate. A Berlin-born Jewish refugee who survived war, earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, then reinvented himself in San Francisco as the man who essentially industrialized the live rock concert. The Fillmore wasn't just a venue; it was a template the whole touring business still follows. What impresses me is that he created value not by performing but by building the stage others stood on, the unglamorous infrastructure of culture. His 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction was overdue recognition. Modern live music owes him an enormous, often invisible debt.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bill Graham
- Name (Japanese)
- ビル・グレアム
- Reading
- びる・ぐれあむ
- Born
- January 8, 1931 – October 25, 1991
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Goat
- Origin
- Berlin, Margraviate of Brandenburg
- Occupation
- impresario / concert production / music promoter / talent manager / entrepreneur
2. Background
- High school
- DeWitt Clinton High School
Awards & achievements
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%20Graham%20(promoter)
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q862152
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Graham born?
Born January 8, 1931.
When did Bill Graham die?
Died October 25, 1991, aged 60.
Where was Bill Graham from?
Bill Graham was from Berlin, Margraviate of Brandenburg.
What did Bill Graham do?
Bill Graham worked as impresario, concert production, music promoter, talent manager, entrepreneur.
Impresario — see all → · More people from Margraviate of Brandenburg →