Diane,

You've already learned that a death certificate for 1970 won't be available
through the NYC Dept of Health. But there may be another way to procure it.

Try looking for Jerry Newman's probate or administration file in the borough
where he resided. Death certificates for that time period are often included.

I'd also suggest looking for a death notice/obituary and newspaper articles.
You might search the standard newspapers on microfilm at the NYPL, as well as
trade journals, especially "Variety." You can find entertainment industry
publications, and perhaps some useful books and clippings about Jerry Newman,
in the collection of the NYPL's Library for the Performing Arts. For more
info, visit http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/lpa.html

Best wishes,

Leslie Corn
NYC Genealogical Research & Due Diligence
NYG&BS Library Committee & Subcommittee on Collection Development
Co-Chair, Repositories, NYG&BS NYC 2000 Research Conference, April 30-May 8,
2000
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In a message dated 10/5/99 2:09:06 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:

>Hi, I'm in New York City right now, here doing research. Any suggestions for
>the best way to find birth, marriage and death records here in the city?
>
>I'm documenting the life of Jerry Newman, a man who had the foresight to
>record jazz greats including Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker, Dizzy
>Gillespie, Monk, and numerous others. He owned Esoteric Records, as well as
>the Greenwich Music Shop. He died by his own hand on 8 January 1970.
>
>I know very little about this man who contributed so much to music, as well
>as being a major character in the Beat Generation.
>
>Any tips will be appreciated.
>
>Diane De Rooy