Stanley Dorfman

Stanley Dorfman (born 24 November 1927) is an English music television director, producer, and painter. He is known as the co-creator and original producer and director of the world's longest running music television series, Top of the Pops. His pioneering work on the program contributed to the development of music videos.During his tenure at the BBC, Dorfman created the BBC music television series In Concert in 1970, where he served as director and producer until mid-1974. He provided many notable musicians with their debut television opportunities in the UK. Examples include Glen Campbell, Paco de Lucia, and Laura Nyro. Additionally, Dorfman produced and directed the debut international television performances of artists such as Leonard Cohen, as well as Harry Nilsson's only full concert of his career. Dorfman directed and produced three of the first television series on the BBC that were hosted by female performers, such as Dusty, starring Dusty Springfield, The Bobby Gentry Show, and Once More with Felix, starring Julie Felix. He also directed and produced series aroundJohn Denver, Mary Travers, and Jack Jones. He was also the director and producer of jazz and big band series, including Sounds for Saturday, The Big Bands from the Dorchester, and Show of the Week.

Over his 15-year tenure as a BBC music television director and producer, Dorfman gained the nickname "Mr. Music" for his contributions to the network. His work extends to the realm of music videos for artists that include David Bowie, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ringo Star, Harry Nilsson, Jefferson Starship, and Blondie. Dorfman directed Led Zeppelin's Royal Albert Hall concert on film in 1970, which forms Disc One of the RIAA certified 13 times multi-platinum 2003 Led Zeppelin DVD. In 2022, Led Zeppelin used this footage to release three official music videos: "How Many More Times", "Dazed and Confused", and "What Is and What Should Never Be."Dorfman's portfolio includes directing and producing television specials that include Frank Sinatra In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall, Gilbert and Sullivan's opera The Yeomen of the Guard for television; and the televised performance of Rudolf Nureyev in Giselle, which stands as Nureyev's sole documented performance of the unabridged ballet. He also directed live music events for television, such as the A.R.M.S. benefit concert in London in 1984, the Amnesty International Human Rights Concerts spanning between 1986 to 1998, and the Woodstock '94 and Woodstock '99 music festivals.

Source: Wikidata , August 2023