Outskirts Press, INC.

Talk about two activities of extremes! Stanley Kavan was first a combat bomber pilot surviving 35 hazardous missions over Europe including a very rare single ship, unescorted daylight run earning a Distinguished Flying Cross and later a career recording executive dealing with some of the greatest popular and classical performers ever to grace a musical stage. A Connecticut native, he commuted for 30 years (and a million miles) to his Columbia Records Manhattan office, then a division of CBS, aiding the careers of Leonard Bernstein, Andre Kostelanetz, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Doris Day, Barbra Streisand. Simon and Garfunkel and more. His daily 3½ hour rail routine provided a frequent, perfect canvas for his writing hobby. In fact, the clickety clack sound of the trackage inspired one of Mr. Kavan’s favorite pieces, The Diamond. His earlier chapbook provided the basis for this all encompassing collection. Mr. Kavan is a charter, founding member of the National Recording Academy, home of the coveted Grammy awards. Both of his notable professions are suitably covered in two key publications: Flying Fortress by Edward Jablonski and The Label: The Story of Columbia Records by Gary Marmorstein.