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Memorial for Joan Meltzer
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Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Jul. 14, 1938
Departed on Jul. 15, 2010 and resided in Norfolk, VA.
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Private
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NORFOLK, VIRGINIA-Joan A. Meltzer, who worked with Ayn Rand, wrote lyrics independently and on staff for a record label, spun disco records as the 1970's Manhattan nightclub DJ, "Jenny Fields", and later broke a color barrier as one of the first white female disc jockeys on an FM Urban Contemporary radio station, died suddenly July 14th at her home. She was 72.
Born in Philadelphia, Meltzer was graduated from Girl's High and attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts before moving to New York City in the 60's to affiliate with Rand at the Ayn Rand Institute where she worked with Alan Greenspan and reviewed books for The Objectivist Newsletter.
Meltzer owned scores of vinyl versions of her favorite tune, "Tenderly", made famous by Sarah Vaughan in the 1940's. She collaborated with songwriters from the Philadelphia area, and also worked as a staff lyricist for BMI Records in New York City. A skilled DJ and early adopter of flawless song mixing, as Jenny Fields she helped to generate long rope lines as an in-demand DJ for Manhattan night clubs. She capped her nightclub career by spinning records at the closing of a famous gay Lower Manhattan nightclub on Christopher Street.
After DJ stints at radio stations in Florida and Colorado Meltzer joined WOWI FM, then "Hot 103" in Norfolk, an Urban Contemporary-format station. She worked there on the overnight and other times, as Jenny Fields before retiring in the mid 80's.
Meltzer volunteered for the Tidewater AIDS Community Task Force, in Norfolk, and for years read to elementary school children in the Ghent section of Norfolk in which she resided.
Daughter of the late Philadelphia philanthropists Leon and Ruth Meltzer, and sister of the late Elaine Meltzer, she was twice married and divorced. Her last marriage was to Ed Kleban, lyricist for the Tony and Pulitzer Award-winning musical, "A Chorus Line". A first cousin, Richard Lavinthal of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, survives her.
H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk chapel is handling arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com
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