Quick Facts
Biography
Max Margulis (1907–1996) was an American musician, writer, music teacher, voice coach, record producer, copywriter, photographer and left-wing activist. He had a significant influence on the New York artistic and performing community particularly from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was a co-founder of Blue Note Records who put up much of the initial money to fund the record label, although from the start his participation was more as a supporter of the music, not with visions of producing record albums. He did, however, write advertising brochures and ad copy for the label.
Margulis reviewed music and wrote for left-wing periodicals including the Daily Worker in the 1930s and 1940s under the pseudonym Martin McCall.
From 1949 through the 1960s, he was an active stereo photographer who photographed many of the most significant painters of the New York art scene in their studio, including Willem de Kooning.
As voice teacher, Margulis's pupils included many singers and actors, among them singer-songwriter Judy Collins, who credits him with honing her skills, overcoming troublesome voice issues, and with the longevity of her career.