Although when one thinks of PLAYBOY magazine, the glamorous centerfolds and thought-provoking interviews are often the first things to come to mind,

Playboy has had an equally long and mutually beneficial relationship with jazz.

History

PLAYBOY Enterprises was created in 1953 as the HMH Publishing Co., Inc. for the purpose of publishing Playboy. The business quickly expanded and began to develop and distribute a wider range of adult entertainment.

It went public in 1971. Christie Hefner, daughter of Hugh Hefner, was the President from 1982, and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1988, until she left the company in 2009.

In 1978, Playboy celebrated its 25th anniversary with a jazz/pop compendium release. The selections were all drawn from Playboy’s 25th Anniversary Tour of Music, a radio spectacular heard on stations coast to coast.

The set featured more than a dozen outstanding jazz artists.

Hugh M. Hefner

Ever since a feature on the Dorsey Brothers graced the inaugural issue of PLAYBOY fiftyfive years ago, the magazine has been involved with jazz in one way or another. Not really surprising, since Hugh M. Hefner has long maintained an avid interest in music. “I still associate with jazz more than with any other form of popular music,” he has often explained.

The PLAYBOY Jazz Festival is an annual event sponsored by PLAYBOY Enterprises to celebrate jazz as well as feature both established and up and coming musicians of the genre.

It was founded by Hugh Hefner and was first held in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Stadium in 1959.

However, the second festival did not occur until 1979 when it was moved to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Bill Cosby

The event has been held there ever since. The Festival is held on Saturday and Sunday in mid-June. Bill Cosby has been the emcee of most of the Festivals since 1979. The Festival is produced by George Wein’s Festival Productions, Inc.

Virtually every jazz legend has performed at the Festival and many of todays most popular jazz artists-including Los Van Van, Bobby McFerrin and Kenny G-received their first major exposure on our stage at the Hollywood Bowl.

The PLAYBOY Jazz Festival is broadcast live by the Southern California jazz public radio station KKJZ.