Howard Klein

American classical music critic and pianist, born in Teaneck, New Jersey (June 15, 1931.) He died after an accidental fall on March 1, 2021 in Winchester, Virginia. For the head of Sire Records, see Howie Klein. Howard Klein earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Music from the Juilliard School. He began his career as a music teacher and pianist for dancer José Limón. In 1962 he became a music critic and reporter for The New York Times. He left The Times in 1967 to become the Assistant Director of the Rockefeller Foundation, although he continued to contribute articles to the newspaper periodically on a freelance basis into the early 1970s. Klein played an instrumental role in the Rockefeller donation that established the TV Lab at Thirteen/WNET in 1971. In 1973 he succeeded Norman Lloyd as Director of Arts of the Rockefeller Foundation. In 1983 he became Deputy Director for Arts and Humanities for the foundation, a position he remained in until he left the organization in 1986. He then worked as the Director of Artists and Repertory for New World Records. Composer Charles Wuorinen dedicated his piano composition Album Leaf (1984) to him. He has three sons and a daughter with his wife of 54 years, the realist painter Patricia Windrow (1921-2013). His sons include the tenor Adam Klein and bluegrass musician Moondi Klein.