Esmond Edwards

American Jazz and Blues photographer, record producer and recording engineer. He was one of the first African-American executives in the recording industry. Photographer and, later, producer for Prestige in the 50s and early 60s, head producer and A&R executive for Verve Records and Chess during 60s and 70s. During his career, he was also associated with MGM, Columbia, Polydor, and Impulse Records. Born: October 29, 1927 in Nassau, Bahamas from Jamaican parents. Dead: January 20, 2007 in Santa Barbara, California