![]() ![]() Richmond gave Guthrie a portable tape recorder which Guthrie used at home and wherever inspiration led him. Woody Guthrie, found a musical home at TRO. Over the years, Lead Belly?s music has become an important resource for many artists including the Beach Boys (?Cotton Fields?), Eric Clapton (?Alberta?) and Nirvana (?Where Did You Sleep Last Night?). Lead Belly?s songs were inspirational to young writers and musicians such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Oscar Brand. ![]() Richmond acquired the vast catalog of Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, who wrote hundreds of songs and attracted audiences with his powerful voice wherever he performed. Richmond partnered with Pete Kameron, who was at the center of this exciting development and the folk catalog became the foundation for TRO’s early acceptance and continued international success. The folk revival was sparked by the songs of The Weavers and the great reservoir of Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie songs. By the early 1960?s, TRO had a presence in every major market around the world. England was the first stop, with France, Italy and Germany to follow. ![]() Airplay didn?t guarantee a hit, but it gave the song an immediate audience and TRO was able to witness many successes for its talented songwriters via the deejay network.Hot on the heels of his initial success, 1951 proved to be another banner year with Jimmy Rodgers hit rendition of ?Kisses Sweeter Than Wine? and the Weavers?So Long It?s Been Good To Know Yuh? making the charts.ĭoris Day had a solid hit in 1952 with Oscar Brand?s catchy tune, ?A Guy Is A Guy,? followed by Rosemary Clooney?s recording of ?Botch-A-Me.? The decade played on with many more chart hits, including ?I Believe,?Anna,?Band Of Gold? and ?Tom Dooley.?With the momentum of TRO?s success in the United States, Richmond moved to set up international music publishing companies, hoping to develop new repertoire from every source possible. While other music publishers plugged new songs via live performances, with recordings usually made after songs were established and on the best-selling sheet music charts, Richmond and company started songs on shellac singles and plugged them with disc jockeys in numerous cities until record sales took off. Guy Mitchell?s recording of ?The Roving Kind? was the next big success and when Phil Harris? recording of ?The Thing? topped the charts in December 1950, Howie Richmond was the hottest independent music publisher in the industry.One of the most important factors in Richmond?s early success was his unique style of song plugging and promotion which centered on radio exploitation via disc jockeys. ?Goodnight, Irene? catapulted folk quartet, The Weavers, into stardom. Mitch Miller and other top record producers turned to TRO for new material for their stable of recording artists hoping for the next big hit.In the 1950?s, the hits kept coming. With activities developing on many fronts, Richmond restructured his firm under the banner of The Richmond Organization (TRO). Songwriters soon flocked to the hot new publisher. The second song, ?Music! Music! Music!? by Stephan Weiss and Bernie Baum and recorded by Teresa Brewer, brought Cromwell a number one hit only months after the company was founded. The tune was written by British music hall star, Billy Whitlock and Gene Rayburn with new lyrics by the American, Carl Sigman. The record reached the number 16 slot on the best-selling charts. Working on the firm?s very first song, Richmond persuaded renowned bandleader Guy Lombardo to record the rhythm novelty, ?Hop-Scotch Polka? for Decca Records. Richmond was soon joined in the business by fellow song plugger, Al Brackman and Abe Olman, former head of Robbins, Feist and Miller. Richmond decided to concentrate on music publishing and set up his own office, a one-room affair on West 57th Street, where Cromwell Music, his debut music publishing venture, first saw the light of day in 1949. Later, the firm was renamed American Artists Bureau and for a time represented the singer Sarah Vaughan, among others. He then joined forces with Buddy Robbins operating Robbins Artist Bureau, a spin-off from parent company Robbins, Feist and Miller. Following this learning experience, Richmond set up his own press office, publicizing such soon-to-be legendary clients as Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, the Andrews Sisters, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa and bandleader, Larry Clinton.Īfter serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Richmond worked for a time at The American Theater Wing. Howie Richmond began working in the music business in 1935 as an intern for George Lottman, dean of Broadway press agents. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |