SUDBURY, MA — Judi Bernstein-Cohen, 79, who played a key role at Woodstock (1969), Festival Express (1970) and other milestones of rock concert history, died May 26 after a short illness. Bernstein-Cohen worked with Bill Hanley, recipient of the 2006 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award, serving as founding general manager for Hanley Sound Inc. Bernstein-Cohen also played a key role with Terry Hanley Audio Systems and was the founding editor of Pro Sound News.
Bernstein-Cohen is survived by her husband, Harold Cohen, and a brother, Dr. Arthur Bernstein. Services were held earlier this month in Saddle Brook, NJ and Sudbury, MA. Remembrances can be directed to Hadassah-New England, 200 Reservoir St., Suite 103, Needham, MA 02494.
FRONT of HOUSE received more details of Bernstein-Cohen’s career achievements and remembrances, along with the photo accompanying this posting, from Larry Blakely with Blakely Consulting Group in Meridian, MS; they follow below.
Judi Bernstein-Cohen was born in Brooklyn, NY and graduated Adelphi College in 1958. Judi was a people person. She started in the music industry as a talent agent, working for Frank Barsalona, with Premier Talent Agency in New York City where she booked Herman’s Hermits, Eric Burton and the Animals among other acts.
She moved to Boston in 1964 to work for John Sdoucos, Music Productions, Inc. to do personal management. At the time they managed Barry and the Remains, (second act on the 2nd Beatles U.S. Tour).
In 1967, Judi became General Manager of Hanley Sound, Inc., where she worked closely Bill Hanley, (a Parnelli Innovator Award winner) and recently dubbed “The Farther of Festival Sound.” Judi wore many hats: overseeing the business office, in-house technical staff, negotiating contracts with promoters and band managers, assigning sound crews and taking care of the necessary-permits. Judi also supported Bill’s audio systems engineering, in-field activities with the clients, i.e. groups, managers, promoters and scouting venues.
Judi had many firsts. When the Beach Boys wanted Hanley Sound as their sole sound company for their live performances, drawing on her talent-agent background, she created the first industry sound rider. Clients were varied from Rock; Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane; to Folk; Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary; Soul; James Brown, Aretha Franklin; Motown, the Temptations and the Four Tops.
She was involved in managing sound for rallys at the Washington Monument in addition to speeches and press events at the White House. She also oversaw sound equipment installations at Fenway Park, Clubs in NY, Café Au Go Go, Bitter End, Steve Paul’s Scene East and West, and in Boston, the infamous Boston Tea Party on Berkeley St., Paul’s Mall, The Jazz Work Shop, and the Boston Club.
Also, at Hanley Sound she assisted in doing many major music festivals that include, Woodstock 1969, Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, New Orleans Jazz, Miami Pop, Ann Arbor Blues Festival and others. Judi was most proud of being the on-site Technical Director for Festival Express in 1970, traveling on a train that went across Canada carrying major artists such as Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, Ian and Sylvia to name a few. Her responsibilities on this tour by train included managing the crews for live-sound equipment, stage and lighting plus the audio recordings that made possible the DVD documentary of this tour.
In 1975, Judi became the administrative assistant to Larry Blakely, Director of Marketing at dbx, inc. until 1978, when he left the company. Then Vinnie Testa and Paul Gallo hired Judi as the founding editor of Pro Sound News; now in its 37th year. Her last position, before retiring, was as Manager of Terry Hanley Audio Systems, Inc., Woburn MA.
Judi also had a charitable side that included positions as Executive Director of the Boston Chapter of Hadassah, supporting Hadassah Hospitals in Israel, a regional representative for Women’s American ORT, which supported trade schools in Europe including training for sound technicians.
She passed away after a brief illness on May 26, 2015. Judi is survived by her husband of 44 years, Harold Cohen, her brother Dr. Arthur Bernstein in addition to many close family-members and friends.
