ATLANTA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — A legend in the entertainment industry both locally and nationally, concert and family attractions promoter, J. Lee Friedman died at 92.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 195 he and his family soon moved to Anchorage Kentucky. Friedman was educated at the Kentucky Military Academy and followed with Duke University entering as a freshman at the young age of 16. He received his Bachelors from the University of Kentucky and a Law degree from the University of Louisville, at that time he had the highest score ever for the Kentucky Bar exam.
Friedman began his career at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in marketing and later was the original promoter for the Roller Derby. He promoted Holiday on Ice in Atlanta starting in 1946 at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium and later Holiday on Ice in various cities including New Orleans. He became President of the Atlanta Music Club in the mid 60's. and was the first promoter to integrate the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium and Tower Theater. Another first was being the promoter for the WPLO Shower of Stars, WPLO was the big country station in Atlanta.
Friedman’s musical resume also included Advisor for Family Shows at the Omni and promoter for Sesame Street Live shows in Atlanta and many other cities, he loved the show.
President of Braves Productions Inc.(BPI). They bought in the Superbowl of Motocross, Kool Jazz Festival and other shows such as Elton John, Three Dog Night and Rod Stewart to the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.
He was also the promoter for the very successful "A Good Man is Hard to Find" gospel musical and worked with the Universoul Circus in their start up period. Promoter for "The Original Battle of the Bands" in Atlanta and many other cities.
J. Lee Friedman Was married in 1941 to Ruth O'Neal who passed in 1955. He has twin sons Lee and Lynn Friedman now 60 and a daughter Cathy Friedman who is 55.- CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
