Billy Sammeth

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Billy Sammeth (December 3, 1951 – June 18, 2018) was an American talent manager, writer, and television producer and personality.

Early life

Billy Sammeth was born December 3, 1951, in

Walt Disney Productions, pioneering the character merchandising division (licensing the Davy Crockett Coonskin Cap to then unknown toy company, Mattel).[1]

Career

Management

In 1969, only a week after beginning college in

The Osmond Brothers. Sammeth and the Osmond Brothers became fast friends and Sammeth continued to work with the Osmond Brothers as their public relations representative[2]
even while attending school.

Sammeth dropped out of college in 1971 and began work at

MGM records for Mike Curb. Soon after, Osmondmania became a worldwide phenomena, and at the age of 21, he was credited with launching the Osmondmania craze in teenage publications throughout the world. writing weekly articles under Donny's name, making all traveling arrangements, touring with the Osmonds and overseeing the licensing of everything from Osmond lunch boxes, pillow cases, bubble gum and Halloween costumes.[3]

In 1973, Sammeth joined the highly respected Katz-Gallin Enterprises, Personal Management Firm that not only represented the Osmonds, but many of the biggest names in Hollywood. He eventually began managing the careers of

Mike Douglas Show, Dinah!, and The Tonight Show
.

In 1983, Sammeth left Katz-Gallin and set up his own agency, The Bill Sammeth Organization, which is still in existence. His first clients were Cher,[4] Joan Rivers,[5] Olivia Newton-John and KC and the Sunshine Band.[3]

Television and Writing

Sammeth appeared on

Michael Ball
.

Sammeth also wrote for

The Late Show starring Joan Rivers which aired on Fox from 1986 to 1988. He executive produced the TV Movie Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz[7] in 1985, as well Cher...at the Mirage[8] in 1990. He also appeared in the documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.[9]

Sammeth's memoir was released in 2013.[needs update][10]

Lawsuits

In 1999, after being fired by Cher, days before singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, Sammeth sued the singer/actress for "unspecified damages", claiming that he was to receive 15% of the profits of Cher's album Believe.[11]

Sammeth sued Joan Rivers for defamation and owed money,[12] after he was fired directly after Rivers' win on The Celebrity Apprentice. He claims that her portrayal of him as the "missing manager" in her documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work was defamatory to his career and that she owed him money for expenses he covered with his own credit cards during the filming of Celebrity Apprentice.[10]

Awards and nominations

Sammeth was nominated as Personal Manager of the Year in the Pollstar Awards and was awarded Personal Manager of the Year by the Conference of Personal Managers in 1985.[13]

References

  1. ^ Los Angeles Times | Obituaries
  2. ^ "The Truth About Boybands". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  3. ^ a b c The New Yorker: A Career in Cake
  4. ^ Sarkisian, Cher; Coplon, Jeff (1999). The First Time.
  5. ISBN 978-0-394-57991-7
    .
  6. ^ Mirror News: Exclusive: Wendi's Cut Out To Be A Star
  7. ^ TV Weekend: Comedy, A La Cinemax and Showtime - The New York Times Review
  8. ^ Cher...at the Mirage New York Times Review
  9. ^ The Brutality of a Performer's Life: 'Joan Rivers -- A Piece of Work'
  10. ^ a b The Daily Beast: Billy Sammeth, the manager fired by Cher and Joan Rivers tells his side of the story
  11. ^ Cher's Manager Miffed, People.com
  12. ^ Rivers Sued for Defame and Fortune - The New York Post
  13. ^ Pollstar Awards Archives 1985
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