From the Los Angeles Times: Alan W. Livingston, an entertainment industry veteran whose career included creating the character of Bozo the Clown for popular children's read-along record albums in the 1940s and signing the Beatles during his tenure as president of Capitol Records in the 1960s, died Friday. He was 91.
Livingston died of age-related causes at his home in Beverly Hills, said his step-daughter, Jennifer Lerner.
Livingston died of age-related causes at his home in Beverly Hills, said his step-daughter, Jennifer Lerner.
Livingston was best-known for his years as president of Capitol Records during the 1960s, when he signed artists such as the Beach Boys, Steve Miller and the Band.
His most famous signing, however, took longer than might be expected.
Livingston first heard about the Beatles in 1963 when he read about the group in the English music press.
The Beatles' records were being released in the United Kingdom by EMI. And because EMI was Capitol's major stockholder, Capitol had the right of first refusal on the Beatles in America. But Capitol rejected the Beatles' early hit singles as unsuitable for the American market.
At a meeting with Capitol's producers, Livingston asked Dave Dexter, who screened all of the English records, what he thought of the Beatles.
"He said, 'Alan, forget it,' " Livingston recalled in a 2004 Billboard interview. " 'They're a bunch of long-haired kids. They're nothing.' I said, 'OK,' and I had no reason to be concerned, because nothing from England was selling here."
Livingston finally received a call from the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, from London wanting to know why there was no interest in the group. When Livingston said he hadn't even heard the Beatles sing, Epstein told him to listen to one of their records and call him back.
Livingston did, and the Beatles signed with Capitol, which agreed on a $40,000 budget to promote their first single.
Livingston later recalled taking the Beatles' new single home to play for his wife, actress Nancy Olson.
"I had great respect for her because she had a good ear," he recalled in the 2004 interview. "She looked at me and said, 'I want to hold your hand? Are you kidding?' I said, 'God, I made a mistake!' "
In February 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and Beatlemania in America was in full swing.
Livingston first heard about the Beatles in 1963 when he read about the group in the English music press.
The Beatles' records were being released in the United Kingdom by EMI. And because EMI was Capitol's major stockholder, Capitol had the right of first refusal on the Beatles in America. But Capitol rejected the Beatles' early hit singles as unsuitable for the American market.
At a meeting with Capitol's producers, Livingston asked Dave Dexter, who screened all of the English records, what he thought of the Beatles.
"He said, 'Alan, forget it,' " Livingston recalled in a 2004 Billboard interview. " 'They're a bunch of long-haired kids. They're nothing.' I said, 'OK,' and I had no reason to be concerned, because nothing from England was selling here."
Livingston finally received a call from the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, from London wanting to know why there was no interest in the group. When Livingston said he hadn't even heard the Beatles sing, Epstein told him to listen to one of their records and call him back.
Livingston did, and the Beatles signed with Capitol, which agreed on a $40,000 budget to promote their first single.
Livingston later recalled taking the Beatles' new single home to play for his wife, actress Nancy Olson.
"I had great respect for her because she had a good ear," he recalled in the 2004 interview. "She looked at me and said, 'I want to hold your hand? Are you kidding?' I said, 'God, I made a mistake!' "
In February 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and Beatlemania in America was in full swing.
No comments:
Post a Comment