Donal Henahan
Encyclopedia
Donal Henahan is a retired American music critic and journalist
who had lengthy associations with the Chicago Daily News
and The New York Times
. For his work with the latter paper he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
for distinguished criticism in 1986.
and Ohio University
, but his education was interrupted by military service during World War II
. He was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force
from 1942–1945 where he held the rank of first lieutenant. For his work in the Air Force he was awarded the Air Medal
with four oak leaf cluster
s. After the war he entered Northwestern University
where he graduated with bachelor's degree in 1948. In 1949 he entered the University of Chicago
to pursue postgraduate work and from 1951–1958 he studied piano, singing, and classical guitar at the Chicago School of Music at Roosevelt University
. He later pursued graduate studies in music at Columbia University
and Yale University
; earning a Master's degree from the latter institution.
While a student at Northwestern, Henahan joined the news staff of the Chicago Daily News
in 1947. He remained with that paper for the next two decades, notably becoming chief music critic of the Daily News in 1957. He concurrently contributed articles as a freelance writer to numerous periodicals; including Esquire
, Harper's Bazaar
, High Fidelity, Musical Quarterly, Saturday Review, Stereo Review
, and The Saturday Evening Post
among others.
In 1967 Henahan left the Chicago Daily News to join the music criticism staff at The New York Times
. He became chief music critic of The Times in 1980 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism in 1986. He remained chief music critc at The Times until his retirement in 1991 when he was succeeded by critic Edward Rothstein
. After his retirement, he periodically contributed articles to The Times through 1997 as a freelance writer.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who had lengthy associations with the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. For his work with the latter paper he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for distinguished criticism in 1986.
Life and career
Born in Cleveland, Henahan initially studied at Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
and Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, but his education was interrupted by military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1942–1945 where he held the rank of first lieutenant. For his work in the Air Force he was awarded the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with four oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s. After the war he entered Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
where he graduated with bachelor's degree in 1948. In 1949 he entered the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
to pursue postgraduate work and from 1951–1958 he studied piano, singing, and classical guitar at the Chicago School of Music at Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
. He later pursued graduate studies in music at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
; earning a Master's degree from the latter institution.
While a student at Northwestern, Henahan joined the news staff of the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
in 1947. He remained with that paper for the next two decades, notably becoming chief music critic of the Daily News in 1957. He concurrently contributed articles as a freelance writer to numerous periodicals; including Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
, High Fidelity, Musical Quarterly, Saturday Review, Stereo Review
Stereo Review
Stereo Review was an American magazine first published in 1958 by Ziff-Davis with the title HiFi and Music Review. It was one of a handful of magazines then available for the individual interested in high fidelity. Throughout its life it published a blend of record and equipment reviews, articles...
, and The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
among others.
In 1967 Henahan left the Chicago Daily News to join the music criticism staff at The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He became chief music critic of The Times in 1980 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism in 1986. He remained chief music critc at The Times until his retirement in 1991 when he was succeeded by critic Edward Rothstein
Edward Rothstein
Edward Rothstein is a critic and a composer.Rothstein holds a B.A. from Yale University , an M.A. in English literature from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago...
. After his retirement, he periodically contributed articles to The Times through 1997 as a freelance writer.