What makes Maxim Langstaff’s work evergreen more than one shot of “lighting in a bottle” is his proven ability to tell meaningful stories and the scalability of his work into a platform that is entertaining, insightful, and culturally significant. This allows Max’s work to spark a deeper understanding and respect for humanity’s place in the natural world.
Professional Highlights
The Making of Sgt. Pepper
(The Beatles) with Sir George Martin: Producer and Director of the multi-media production worldwide.
Wildlife Crisis Documentary
Max was the creator and executive producer of the award-winning documentary for the Wildlife Conservation Society about the global extinction crisis facing the planet.
Bonus Content:
Soundbreaking
Max was the creator, co-executive producer, producer, director and writer for the Grammy, Emmy & Film Critics Award nominated PBS TV Series, DVD, Companion book Soundbreaking and On Record: The Soundtrack of Our Lives; one of the largest multi-media documentary projects of it’s kind.
Clips:
Book
Created book concept. Principle interviews conducted by Maxim.
John Denver, The WildLife Concert
The Wildlife Concert TV Special / DVD & Double CD (John Denver): Creator, Executive Producer and Writer. Rated 9 out of 10 Critics Choice by TV Guide; highest rated music television broadcast in A&E’s history; Reached #3 on the Billboard Video Charts ahead of the Eagles, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson. Sony Music release double-length RIAA Platinum certified CD.
The Best Of John Denver Live
Creator and Executive Producer; Sony Music release.
RIAA Platinum-certified CD, Topping the Billboard Pop, AC, and Country Music charts.
On Record: The Soundtrack of Our lives
Creator, Writer and Producer.
Many of the greatest pop culture icons of the 20th century have collaborated with Max on projects he has written & produced:
- John Denver
- Joni Mitchell
- Dave Brubeck
- John Prine
- B.B. King
- Tony Bennett
- Burt Bacharach
- Bonnie Raitt
- Mark Knopfler
- Herb Alpert
- Steve Winwood
- Frankie Valli
- Peter, Paul & Mary
- Michael Tilson Thomas
- The Rascals
- Cat Stevens
- Dave Mason
- Kitty Wells
- Public Enemy
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Earl Scruggs
- Robbie Robertson
- Gamble & Huff
- Hans Zimmer
- The Monkees
- Smokey Robinson
- Ringo Starr
- Lieber & Stroller
- The Sherman Brothers
- Paul Anka
- Stephen Schwartz
- George Benson
- Tommy James & the Shondells
- Jack White
- Glen Campbell
- Boston
- Roger Waters
- Jimmy Jam
- Kenny Rogers
- Michael Feinstein
- Jeff Beck
- Carole King
- Les Paul
- Imogene Heap
- Dave Grohl
- Vince Gill
- Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Willie Nelson
Maxim's Bio
Maxim Langstaff is a Grammy and Emmy-nominated multi-media writer and storyteller whose creative and editorial work in print, TV, film, radio, and music has reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide. An author, writer, producer, and director, he is recognized for his innovative vision and exceptional versatility and reach, crafting narratives that reflect deep insight into the natural world and our shared human experience. His new, much-anticipated novel, SASQ’ET, will be released April 7, 2026.
Both a member of The Writer’s Guild and presenter at the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference, his editorial and creative writing has been published by The New York Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, Gannett, Wildlife Conservation Magazine, PBS, SONY, Disney, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Well known for his acclaimed work with John Denver, Max wrote and produced the Wildlife Concert for both A&E and PBS in 1995, spawning the highest-rated music program in cable TV history, two multi-platinum CD sets, and one of the best-selling music videos ever released by SONY, topping the Eagles, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson at the time. It remains one of the best-selling prime-time pledge programs in PBS history.
As the creator, writer, and executive producer for both the award-winning PBS Series and companion book Soundbreaking (On Record: the Soundtrack of Our Lives), it is one of the largest multimedia documentary film and book projects ever undertaken.
Among his many credits, he produced the multi-media Making of Sgt. Pepper with legendary producer Sir George Martin, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Phil Collins. He wrote, produced, and directed the most comprehensive filmed history of the Beatles through the eyes of the one man who signed them, produced their work, and played on their recordings, Sir George Martin.
His award winning work extends to “Best Film” at the International Wildlife Film festival for Wildlife Crisis, and the “Parents Choice Award” for The Jackfish, a collection of traditional folk songs recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
His wide-ranging knowledge of American popular music, the Beatles, wildlife conservation, the arts, media, and business, make him much sought after as a lecturer, teacher, and public speaker- including PBS, the University of North Carolina, the Aspen Business Association, Maine Maritime Academy, Holly Springs Cultural Center, North Carolina State University. For a number of years he has served as a judge and keynote speaker for Reflections, a national PTA Program engaging hundreds of thousands of students Pre-K grade – 12, to help them “explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.”
From a long line of published writers and authors, Max’s great uncle is the Pulitzer winning playwright, Sidney Howard, the man who wrote the script for “Gone With The Wind”. His great grandfather, author of Life’s Place in the Cosmos, A Genius in the Family, and Horseless Carriage Days was noted film pioneer/inventor, Hiram Percy Maxim, founder of the Amateur Film League.
Co-founder and playwright-in-residence for the National Youth Theater at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Max is a graduate of the Putney School, Connecticut College, the National Theater Institute, and the Breadloaf Writers Conference. He has served on the boards of Northeast Film, A.E. Howell Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center, the Deertrees Foundation, Millenia Music, and Revels Inc.
Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Max helped lead the largest fundraising effort ever undertaken for wildlife conservation, seeding the first integrated global conservation initiative to save Tigers.
On any given day you will likely find him on a wilderness river or mountain trail. A three-time Boston Marathoner, he currently lives in North Carolina.