Michael Feinstein bio

Michael Feinstein has built a dazzling career bringing music of the Great American Songbook to the world. From recordings that have earned him five Grammy nominations to his Emmy-nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series, and concerts around the globe, his work as an educator and archivist defines Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time.

In 2022, Feinstein released Gershwin Country, an album of standards in duet with some of the biggest names in country music, including Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, and Brad Paisley. In 2007, he founded the Great American Songbook Foundation, dedicated to celebrating the art form and preserving it through educational programs, master classes, and the annual Songbook Academy for high school students.

Feinstein serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board, an organization dedicated to ensuring the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage. He is also artistic director of the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana. In 2010, he became director of the Jazz and Popular Song series at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Feinstein was named principal pops conductor of the Pasadena Symphony in 2012 and made his conducting debut in June 2013 to celebrated critical acclaim. Feinstein’s at the Nikko, his nightclub at San Francisco’s Nikko Hotel, has presented the top talents of pop and jazz since 2013; Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel opened in 2021. In 2022, Feinstein’s / 54 Below in New York City received a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre.