Larry Magid's The Philadelphia Music Book: Celebrating a Legacy That Shaped Philly's Sound

Few people have influenced Philadelphia’s cultural identity as profoundly as Larry Magid. In 1997, the Philadelphia Music Alliance inducted him into their highly esteemed Walk of Fame, honoring his significant contributions as a visionary concert producer, co-founder of Electric Factory Concerts (now Franklin Music Hall), and helping to define Philly’s place on the national music map. Now, through his new book, The Philadelphia Music Book: Sounds of a City, he captures the full sweep of the region’s musical heritage.  

This month, we’re proud to welcome him to Curtain Call, our café and lounge inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, on Wednesday, December 17th at 5:00 PM for a free, special book-signing event. 

Honoring Larry Magid’s Impact on Philadelphia Music 

For more than five decades, Larry Magid has been synonymous with Philadelphia’s live music scene. From producing thousands of concerts to elevating legendary performers on local stages (think Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zepplin, and Elton John), his influence is woven into the city’s artistic fabric (Magid, 2025). 

As noted in The Philadelphia Music Book when describing the Electric Factory’s impact on local music, “By the early 1970s, Philadelphia had developed a large, passionate rock and roll fan base and was home to one of the nation’s premier rock concert promotion companies, Electric Factory Concerts, making the city an especially important center for the music” (Magid, 2025, pg. 226)  

Magid’s work helped transform Philadelphia into an essential stop for touring artists, while also uplifting homegrown talent. His legacy mirrors our mission: celebrating artistic excellence while fostering a vibrant cultural community.

The Philadelphia Music Book is both a historical record and a love letter to the region’s musical narrative. Filled with hundreds of photographs, biographies, and behind-the-scenes moments, the book spans genres ranging from classical and jazz to hip-hop, rock, soul, folk, gospel, dance music, and beyond. 

Some of the famous names mentioned in Magid’s anthology include The Philadelphia Orchestra’s former music directors Leopold Stokowski (1912–1941), Riccardo Muti (1980-1992), Eugene Ormandy (1936–1980), and Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993–2003) and current Philadelphia Orchestra Artistic and Music Director, Yannick Nézet Séguin (Peter Dobrin, 2025, as cited in Magid, 2025, pgs. 7 & 37). 

The Philadelphia Music Book highlights the many voices, venues, and visionaries that shaped the city’s unmistakable sound. Readers will find tributes to iconic performers, spotlights on influential producers and executives, and reflections on the venues that gave rise to unforgettable experiences—all curated with Magid’s firsthand knowledge of the industry he helped build. 

For fans of Philadelphia’s cultural history, this book is both a celebration and an education. 

As Philadelphia continues to evolve artistically, Magid’s book arrives at a moment when preserving and honoring the city’s musical roots feels more important than ever. It captures eras that transformed entire genres and reminds readers how deeply music is intertwined with the city’s identity. 

The royalties collected from the book sales also supports the Philadelphia Music Alliance, further extending Magid’s lifelong commitment to nurturing local talent and preserving artistic heritage—values that resonate deeply with our organization's own work.

We are thrilled to host Magid at Curtain Call on Wednesday, December 17th at 5:00 PM for an exclusive book-signing and conversation about The Philadelphia Music Book. 

This free event will give attendees the exclusive opportunity to: