Music benefactor Bing dies
Remembered for love of artists, work with Jerry Lee Lewis
On Monday, film producer, philanthropist and political activist Steve Bing died in Los Angeles. The news of his passing was felt deeply in Memphis, where Bing — a major music fan and booster — was beloved as a champion of the Bluff City’s rich musical heritage.
Bing had been the key force behind Jerry Lee Lewis’ late career comeback since 2005, executive producing multiple albums and projects for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer.
On Tuesday, Lewis released a statement on Bing’s passing. “Steve Bing has been my friend for nearly 40 years. He was more than a friend, he was a confidant, a shepherd and a son to me,” Lewis said. “We’ve spent countless holidays together, traveled the world and enjoyed many fond memories. I loved him and will miss him dearly. It doesn’t seem possible to live in a world without Steve. Rest easy, son.”
Following various media reports about his death at age 55, Bing’s former girlfriend, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and their 18-year-old son, Damian, confirmed his death on their respective social media accounts Tuesday. The founder of Shangri-la Entertainment, Bing was the grandson of real estate developer Leo S. Bing, a close friend of former President Bill Clinton, and a major contributor to the Democratic Party.
Raised in Los Angeles, Bing dropped out of Stanford University to pursue a Hollywood career, first as a writer and, ultimately, a producer. He was the key figure behind the development of director Robert Zemeckis’ groundbreaking digital features “The Polar Express and “Beowulf.” His other credits include the Albert Brooks directed “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” and the Bill Murray vehicle “Rock the Kasbah.”
Bing’s passion for music led him to produce documentaries, including Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones concert film “Shine a Light” and the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young feature, “CSNY/DÉJÀ Vu.” In 2009, Bing launched his own boutique record label, Shangri-la Music, which put out albums by The Pretenders and Monsters of Folk, among others.
Despite his many musical enthusiasms, Bing’s greatest passion, certainly his deepest devotion, was for the pumping piano of The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis.
“Steve taught himself to play piano when he was a kid, because he was just so bowled over by Jerry Lee and seeing him at the [Los Angeles nightclub] The Palomino night after night,” said Peter Guralnick, noted music author, Elvis Presley biographer and Bing friend. “Steve was a fan in the best sense of the word. He was a fan of the music, he was a fan of the musicians. And he did everything he could to support them.”
Starting in the mid-2000s, Bing made it a personal crusade to bring Lewis back into the studio and to prominence, executive producing his 2006 LP “Last Man Standing.”
Marking Lewis’ first album in over a decade, Bing helped marshal many of music’s biggest names to appear on “Last Man Standing,” including the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton, among others. Bing also produced a companion live CD and DVD released in 2007, highlighting Lewis’ shows in Los Angeles and New York in support of the album.
“Last Man Standing” was his idea and he executed the entire project perfectly,” said Lewis. “Everything he’s done for me has been nothing short of perfect.”
The Lewis/bing relationship continued with 2010’s “Mean Old Man,” and 2014’s “Rock and Roll Time.” The latter album found Lewis returning to his spiritual home, cutting the record at Sun Studios in Memphis.
“Steve was one of the most positive people I’ve ever known,” said Guralnick, who penned liner notes for the Lewis albums. “He took to the Jack Clement and Sam Phillips dictum that if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing anything. Everything I ever did with him over the years was just big fun.”
Bing continued his support of Lewis into 2020, helping the rock legend — who suffered a stroke last year — put together a new album project produced by T Bone Burnett, and an accompany documentary directed by Burnett and his wife, “Nashville” TV series creator Callie Khouri.
In fall 2018, Bing was part of a group — which included Guralnick and Jagger — that visited Memphis, touring Sun and Phillips studios. The visit came in anticipation of a proposed film adaptation of Guralnick’s biography of Sun founder Sam Phillips, to star Leonardo Dicaprio. Over the years, Bing had also worked to bring a version of country great Merle Haggard’s life story to the big screen.
“He was always looking for a way to enhance the world’s appreciation for the people he loved,” said Guralnick. “He was just a totally committed to the things he loved and believed in.”