 Edward E. Block was born in
Illinois. His education included a B.A. in literature from Yale
and a M.A. in music from Columbia University. He also attended
Julliard for musical training. Fluent in French, German,
Italian, Swedish, Spanish, and Latin, Block served in the army
during World War II, and received a Combat Infantry Badge and a
Bronze Star.
Throughout his career in radio, stage, and television, Ed
produced dramatic, musical, news, art, and children’s shows. He
taught and lectured on drama, staging, and other arts at the
American
Academy of Dramatic Arts. As a member, Block belonged to the
Screen Actor’s Guild, American Federation of Musicians, Actors
Equity Association, and the American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists.
In 1960, Rogan Jones, founder of International Good Music, Inc.,
hired Block to work at the company’s headquarters in
Bellingham,
WA. Block served initially as Chief Announcer for Heritage
Programming, the I.G.M. department responsible for producing
classical music programming 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. He
directed over 30,000 announcements involving translation of
vocal work and musical terms into English, and scripted and
announced original commentary on music. Block later took over
from conductor Alfred Wallenstein as the music and program
director for I.G.M.'s Heritage Stations. Block left I.G.M. in 1962.
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