Margaret Carson
Encyclopedia
Margaret Carson was an American publicist
who was highly influential within the classical music
world. She was a publicist for many important artists during her lengthy career, most notably working closely for several decades with Leonard Bernstein
. She also notably served as the Metropolitan Opera
's press director during the tenure of Edward Johnson
and into the early portion of Rudolf Bing's career at the Met. The New York Times
stated that, Carson was "widely regarded as the leading lady of classical music publicists in New York, who guided a generation of singers through the Metropolitan Opera and shepherded the career of Leonard Bernstein."
, where her father, Morris Klein, was the owner of a local department store. In 1920, at the age of nine, she moved with her parents and four sisters to Toledo, Ohio
where she lived for the rest of her youth. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo
and a Master's degree from Ohio State University
. In 1937, she married her first husband, newspaper editor Charles F. Carson, Jr.
After divorcing her first husband in 1940, Carson moved to New York City
where she began working as a press agent. (She used her first husband's name to the end of her life, suppressing evidence of her maiden name.) In 1944 she became the press director of the Metropolitan Opera
, serving in that capacity over the next decade. She also handled press relations for novelist Theodore Dreiser
, poet Ezra Pound
, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters during the 1940s.
While working in New York during World War II, Carson married press agent Carl N. Ruff, with whom she briefly shared a public relations office. Carson and Ruff were divorced in the 1950s and Carson's third marriage, to journalist Robert Sherrod
(1961–1972), also ended in divorce. She had two children: a son from her first marriage, Charles F.C. Ruff
(adopted by Mr. Ruff upon his marriage to Ms. Carson), and a daughter from her second marriage, Carla Ruff. Her son was a prominent American lawyer who became chief White House
counsel for President Bill Clinton
, representing the President during his Senate impeachment trial in 1999. She also had three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Carson remained active as a publicist up until her death, often working closely with colleague Edgar Vincent
. Her most important client was Leonard Bernstein, with whom she enjoyed a close personal friendship as well as productive professional relationship. After his death in 1990, she remained a consultant to his production company. She also enjoyed long professional associations with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
and jazz musician Benny Goodman
. Carson died in New York City
in 2007.
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
who was highly influential within the classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
world. She was a publicist for many important artists during her lengthy career, most notably working closely for several decades with Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. She also notably served as the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
's press director during the tenure of Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson (tenor)
Edward Patrick Johnson CBE was a Canadian operatic tenor who was billed outside North America as Edoardo Di Giovanni, and became director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.- Early life :...
and into the early portion of Rudolf Bing's career at the Met. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
stated that, Carson was "widely regarded as the leading lady of classical music publicists in New York, who guided a generation of singers through the Metropolitan Opera and shepherded the career of Leonard Bernstein."
Biography
Carson was born Margaret Klein in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where her father, Morris Klein, was the owner of a local department store. In 1920, at the age of nine, she moved with her parents and four sisters to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
where she lived for the rest of her youth. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
and a Master's degree from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. In 1937, she married her first husband, newspaper editor Charles F. Carson, Jr.
After divorcing her first husband in 1940, Carson moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she began working as a press agent. (She used her first husband's name to the end of her life, suppressing evidence of her maiden name.) In 1944 she became the press director of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, serving in that capacity over the next decade. She also handled press relations for novelist Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despite a lack of a firm moral code, and literary situations that more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of...
, poet Ezra Pound
Ezra Pound
Ezra Weston Loomis Pound was an American expatriate poet and critic and a major figure in the early modernist movement in poetry...
, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters during the 1940s.
While working in New York during World War II, Carson married press agent Carl N. Ruff, with whom she briefly shared a public relations office. Carson and Ruff were divorced in the 1950s and Carson's third marriage, to journalist Robert Sherrod
Robert Sherrod
Robert Lee Sherrod was an American journalist, editor and author. He was a war correspondent for TIME and LIFE magazines, covering combat from World War II to the Vietnam War. During World War II, embedded with the United States Marine Corps U.S. Marines, he covered the battles at Attu, Tarawa,...
(1961–1972), also ended in divorce. She had two children: a son from her first marriage, Charles F.C. Ruff
Charles F.C. Ruff
Charles Frederick Carson "Chuck" Ruff was a prominent American lawyer based in Washington, D.C., and was well-noted as White House Counsel, defending President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial in 1999 over Lewinsky scandal and Paula Jones case .Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ruff was a graduate...
(adopted by Mr. Ruff upon his marriage to Ms. Carson), and a daughter from her second marriage, Carla Ruff. Her son was a prominent American lawyer who became chief White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
counsel for President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, representing the President during his Senate impeachment trial in 1999. She also had three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Carson remained active as a publicist up until her death, often working closely with colleague Edgar Vincent
Edgar Vincent
Edgar Vincent was an American publicist and actor of German birth. He began his career appearing in small roles in Hollywood films during the 1940s but his German accent prevented him from moving further with his career. In 1949 he joined a New York publishing firm with his first client being the...
. Her most important client was Leonard Bernstein, with whom she enjoyed a close personal friendship as well as productive professional relationship. After his death in 1990, she remained a consultant to his production company. She also enjoyed long professional associations with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
and jazz musician Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
. Carson died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 2007.
External links
- Margaret Carson Papers, 1935-2007 Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.