[4][5] Epstein grew up in Queens Village, New York, and had an interest in classical music from a young age.
He attended Martin Van Buren High School where Epstein played violin.
Frost advised Epstein to major in music and minor in communications because there were no programs in recording technology at the time.
Epstein attended Hofstra University from 1969 where he played with the college's orchestra[6] and worked at the radio station, WVHC-FM, all four years (as classical music director and engineer).
[6] Epstein started as music editor for Columbia Masterworks and eventually became senior executive producer at the label.
[3] He has been an adjunct professor of the Sound Recording Program at McGill University in Montreal since 1996.