Songbook Supporter Spotlight: Judy Fink
October 23, 2026
Throughout American Archives Month, we’re highlighting the remarkable collections preserved at the Songbook Library & Archives and the generous donors who make our preservation work possible.
Meet Judy Fink
Through a generous gift in memory of her late partner, Lester (Les) Block, Judy Fink established the Les Block Preservation Partners.
This initiative supports our national preservation efforts and helps make the collections of the Songbook Library & Archives more accessible to diverse audiences, including scholars, educators and performers.
Judy’s support reflects Les’s lifelong passion for the Great American Songbook. Alongside his career as a professor of public health at the University of Minnesota, Les was a pianist, bandleader, theatrical producer, songwriter and radio personality. He created and directed sold-out productions honoring composers such as Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen, while also co-producing a series of radio tributes.
“The idea that there are people willing to work hard to prevent the loss of the unique musical creations of the Golden Songbook era and the cultural history they represent gives me hope for the future."
— Judy Fink
Judy continues, "My wish is that generations to come will be exposed to, learn from, and be influenced by the Songbook Foundation’s vast archived collection, documenting the period’s values and behaviors expressed in the music and accompanying stories.”
We’re grateful to Judy for helping ensure the music, stories and history of the Great American Songbook continue to inspire future generations while honoring Lester’s enduring passion for this music and its lasting impact.
