Hy Weiss
Hy Weiss | |
---|---|
Born | Hyman Y. Weiss February 12, 1923 Cuca, Argeș County, Romania |
Died | March 20, 2007 Englewood, New Jersey, United States | (aged 84)
Occupation | Record producer |
Known for | Owner of Old Town Records |
Spouse | Rosalyn Weiss |
Children | 3 including Barry Weiss |
Hyman Y. "Hy" Weiss (February 12, 1923 – March 20, 2007)[1] was an American record producer of pop and rhythm and blues music in the 1950s and 1960s, and the founder of Old Town Records.
Biography
Born to a
His
Weiss was described as "one of the most colorful characters of the New York independent record business"[5] and as "brash, miserable and explosive by turns... [He] had a bulging contacts book and was both courted and feared in an industry notoriously not for the faint-hearted." He was associated with the practice of "payola", being credited as the inventor of the "$50 handshake",[5] and once said: "Why waste time going out with someone you don't like, and sit down and feast with them when you can't stand them? Just give them the money and let them play the [fucking] record."[4]
Personal life
In 1954, he married Rosalyn Weiss; she died in 1996.
Notable artists
- Billy Bland
- The Capris
- The Co-eds
- The Earls
- The Fiestas
- Larry Finnegan
- Bob Gaddy
- The 5 Crowns
- The Gypsies
- Ruth McFadden
- Arthur Prysock
- Robert & Johnny
- The Solitaires
References
- ^ a b c "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- The London Times. March 30, 2007.in Chicago, Hyman "Hy" Weiss was a Jewish immigrant who tapped into a postwar black music market that was largely ignored by both radio and the leading music companies.
Like his fellow record company owners, the Bihari brothers in Los Angeles (for whom he once worked) and the Chess brothers
- ^ 1930 United States Federal Census Record for Hyman Weiss. Search.ancestry.co.uk, Retrieved March 15, 2013
- ^ a b The Telegraph, "Obituary: Hyman Weiss", 5 April 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2013
- ^ a b c d Profile of Hy Weiss, Black Cat Rockabilly. Retrieved March 15, 2013
- ^ a b c d Sisario, Ben. "Hy Weiss, 84, Music Executive From Rock 'n' Roll's Early Days, Dies", The New York Times, March 31, 2007. Accessed November 26, 2007.
- ^ Billboard, "Atlantic Buys Old Town Line", 12 September 1970, p. 8
- London Telegraph. April 5, 2007.
Hy Weiss's wife, Rosalyn, whom he married in 1954, predeceased him in 1996. Their son survives him.
External links
- Article by Marv Goldberg on Hy Weiss and Old Town Records