Larry Parnes
Larry Parnes | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Laurence Maurice Parnes |
Born | 3 September 1929[1] London, England |
Died | 4 August 1989 (aged 59) London, England |
Genres | Manager, promoter |
Years active | 1954–1981 |
Laurence Maurice Parnes (3 September 1929 – 4 August 1989) was a British pop manager and impresario. He was the first major British rock manager, and his stable of singers included many of the most successful British rock and roll singers of the late 1950s and early 1960s.[2]
Parnes' reputation was later damaged by testimony from many of the artists he managed in the late fifties and early sixties who alleged they were exploited.
Early years
Parnes was born to a
Music management
In 1956, with John Kennedy, Parnes began to manage young rock and roll singer Tommy Hicks; he and John Kennedy approached his parents, after Hicks, aged 19, had already signed another contract, which was under the legal age.[2] Hicks anglicised the name of his Swedish grandfather to become known as Tommy Steele.[4] Steele achieved popular success, some of his songs being co-written by Parnes' friend Lionel Bart, and Parnes succeeded in presenting Steele as an "all-round entertainer".[5] Parnes claimed in a court action that he and Kennedy took 40 per cent of Steele's "gross takings", out of which they had to pay 10 per cent to booking agents as well as the costs of Steele's accommodation, advertising and publicity, travel and other aspects "needed to keep Tommy on the road to stardom".[6] This became the standard arrangement with Parnes' artists.[7]
After Steele's success, Parnes looked to find other young men who he could groom to become pop stars. At Bart's suggestion, he next signed Reg Patterson (né Smith), whom he re-christened
Music journalist Richie Unterberger has commented:
Parnes' performers were groomed as teen idols, rock music being a convenient way to eventually establish all-around entertainers who could also work in straight pop music, variety shows, and film. Image, more than content, was essential to the appeal of Parnes' protégés.[11]
Sometimes, Parnes employed his charges himself rather than being employed by them, and paid them a weekly wage.[12] According to one report:
Vince Eager began to wonder why he had never received any record royalties. "You're not entitled to any," Larry Parnes told him. "But it says in my contract that I am," Eager protested. "It also says I have power of attorney over you, and I've decided you're not getting any," Parnes replied.[5]
The
Parnes also promoted concerts, including the 1960 tour by
Theatre and other interests
Parnes remained an influential impresario even after the rise of the Beatles and other groups had eclipsed those in his stable.
Parnes was a horse racing fan, and owned racehorses, including Cambridge Gold, named after his involvement in the Cambridge Theatre and John Curry.[citation needed] He had a penthouse property in South Kensington,[7] and country mansions in Send, Surrey, and Icklesham, East Sussex.
Later years
Parnes retired in 1981 and died from
References
Notes
- ^ In an interview involving Marty Wilde, Parnes explained the change of name: "Marty – that's a friendly name – and Wilde – that's the spirit. The name must fit the personality. Very important".[10]
- ^ Parnes was a friend of Beatles manager Brian Epstein and in 1963 attempted to hire them to perform in a series of Sunday concerts on the pier at Great Yarmouth.[3]
Citations
- ^ "Join Ancestry®". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-74325-378-9.
- ^ Tommy Steele International Fan Club: biography Archived 30 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "LARRY PARNES". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Tommy Steele's managers bring libel action: "Carve-up" suggestion in magazine". The Guardian. 8 July 1960. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Parnes dreams of tycoonery". The Observer. 2 December 1962. p. 6.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (28 February 2012). "Straight and narrow: how pop lost its gay edge". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Brown, Mick (3 June 2013). "The mystery of David Jacobs, the Liberace lawyer". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "Keeping it groovy with Marty Wilde". The Observer. 8 November 1959. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Larry Parnes | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2006.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "So Little Time". H'edification for the H'iggerant…. Chris Hughes. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2016.