Leonard Feist, a retired music industry exec who helped lead efforts to protect copyrighted music, died on Nov. 18 at the Jewish Home & Hospital in New York. He was 85.
He was the son of Leo Feist, the Tin Pan Alley publishing pioneer, and was president of the Century Music and Mercury Music companies for two decades, focusing on classical and concert music. From 1956-64, he ran Associated Music Publishers.
He earned international recognition as a leader in efforts for copyright reform as executive VP of the National Music Publishers Assn. from 1955-66, and as president from 1976-84. He also took part in drafting the United States Copyright Act of 1976.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Regensberg Feist, two daughters and two grandsons.
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