Krauss, Zane (1926-2014) | Center for Black Music Research
Name: Krauss, Zane (1926-2014)
Historical Note: Zane Knauss (1927–2014) a lifelong jazz enthusiast, with a career focused on arts promotion. Knauss was a publicist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, then served in public relations for Southern Methodist University, and later the University of South Carolina. In 1975, Knauss combined his love of jazz with local pride. South Carolina Educational TV (SC ETV) funded a documentary about Dizzy Gillespie, which was filmed in Gillespie's home town, Cheraw. Knauss wrote the script and did the interviews and soundtrack for the film. He was also a producer and scriptwriter for other public television and radio programs, including a five-part series during 1976–1977 for South Carolina Education Radio titled Composers Profile on jazz artists and co-production of an eight-part series for public radio titled African American Music Tree. A collection of transcripts of Knauss's interviews was published as volume 2 of the “Conversations with . . .” series, as Conversations with Jazz Musicians (Detroit: Bruccoli Clark, 1977).