Passages: A Life in Tune; Moving with the Music

Lance Jones, Thursday, November 5, 2009

4:30pm, Porter Hall 100 (Gregg Hall)

Lance Jones, former Vice President, Live Nation Pittsburgh / General Manager, Post-Gazette Pavilion

“Passage” has multiple meanings: It can be a phrase or other division of a musical work, OR an act or instance of passing from one place or condition to another. Lance Jones has traversed a musical landscape from an early age—roadie in high school, FM deejay in college, and record store manager upon graduation, which was just the start to many such musical movements throughout his personal and professional life. In the late 1970’s, Jones worked for international record distributor Warner-Elektra-Atlantic, and then moved on to marketing for major retailer National Record Mart, a chain of 70+ stores in six states based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

In the mid-80’s, he accepted the position of Director of Booking for the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, and assisted in spearheading the arena’s first major open-air concert series, which featured the venue’s world-renowned “retractable dome” capability. In the early 90’s, Jones moved on to become marketing director for still-in-its-infancy Star Lake Amphitheatre, and ascended to General Manager by 1995. Often ranked by touring industry magazine PollStar as one of the top ten amphitheatres in the country, Star Lake (redubbed Post-Gazette Pavilion in 2000) was helmed by Jones and established record attendances while putting Pittsburgh “on the map” for many of the top touring artists in the world.

Jones will share his musical passages as well as highlight national and local musical trends, twists and turns along the way. “Life is a journey,” says Jones, “and to me it’s a clear mix of focus, forward momentum, and pursuit of passion---with a nice dash of serendipity just when you really need it!” 

(The lecture will be followed by Q & A, and then a brief screening of some concert videos—individual songs by select artists—as chosen by Jones especially for this presentation.)

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