Joachim E. Berendt

In Germany, Joachim E. Berendt was called the "jazz pope",
and indeed he was the most influential non-musician in the
German jazz scene for more than 50 years. He was founding
member of South West German Radio (Südwestfunk) and
produced more than 250 records, including many issued on
the MPS-SABA label. In 1953, he first published The
Jazzbuch, which became the most successful history book on
jazz worldwide. His collection of records, books and jazz
documents became the basis for the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt
before he died in an accident in 2000. His contributions to
jazz are internationally recognized to this day.