Lustig was born on October 21, 1925, in Coney Island, New York, the youngest child of five to Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants from the Polish-Russian border.
[1] He became an apprentice music journalist and press agent, meeting with entertainers such as Gloria Swanson and Mel Brooks.
[1] His early clients included Nat King Cole, the Birdland jazz club, and The Weavers.
After hours of conversation about the world of press agents, Lustig announced that Kerouac would write a play, "I Am a Camera", on the subject.
[1] When Decca signed Julie Felix it was the first time a British label acquired a major folk artist.
Lustig promoted her to record an album and a single ("Someday soon") and an appearance on the Eamonn Andrews TV show.
The cover of their second album Sweet Child was designed by Peter Blake, creator of The Beatles "Sgt.
In 1972 Robin and Barry Dransfield's "Lord of all I Behold" was Melody Maker's Folk Album of the Year.
After the departure of Martin Carthy and Ashley Hutchings, Steeleye Span were eager for commercial success.
Somewhere along the line, Jo Lustig managed Irish harpist Mary O'Hara, who emerged after a decade in a convent to become a popular easy listening act.
He also managed folk singer Richard Digance and, for a while, Jethro Tull (during the "Songs from the Wood" period).
About 1980 Jo Lustig created his own record label called Luggage, but only one act is known to have appeared in it – the Home Service.