Tony Calder

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Tony Calder
Born(1943-06-27)27 June 1943
OriginLondon, England
Died2 January 2018(2018-01-02) (aged 74)
Occupation(s)Talent spotter, manager, impresario and author

Tony Calder (27 June 1943[1] – 2 January 2018)[2] was an English record manager, impresario, talent-spotter, promoter and public relations agent. He was Andrew Loog Oldham's business partner from 1963 to December 1969.

During a career spanning over 50 years he was instrumental in promoting a number of successful songs in the

"Paint It, Black", the Small Faces "Itchycoo Park", Amen Corner's "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice", Eddy Grant's "I Don't Wanna Dance" and Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers single "Swing the Mood
".

1960s

Calder was born in Surbiton, Surrey to Scottish parents.[3] His grounding in the music industry began in the early 1960s at Decca Records under the direction of Edward Lewis. By day he worked in the sales and marketing department.[4] which gave him a significant insight into the music industry and led him to meeting Brian Epstein, The Beatles, Andrew Loog Oldham and Seymour Stein (who introduced Calder to his all-time record hero George Goldner).

In 1962, Calder was hired by

Rolling Stones, and later the promotion of the Beach Boys
via their publishing contract.

In early 1965, Calder did his first and last record production, taking over from Oldham producing

P.P. Arnold and The Nice. He also worked with Vashti Bunyan for the label, although it was not until the 2000s that she became a cult hero.[citation needed
] At the end of 1969, Calder left Immediate Records.

1970s

In 1971, Calder signed the new band Bay City Rollers with his booking agent business partner David Apps, but quickly relinquished the contract to Dick Leahy, head of Bell Records.[7][8]

In 1975, Calder was appointed CEO of NEMS Records, where he signed Black Sabbath, Pluto and Marianne Faithfull. However he left this position soon after, and spent the following year setting old friend and fashion designer Ossie Clark back in business; licensing his designs and his name to forge a revival of Clark's image. In 1978, he turned his attention to managing Eddy Grant, whose international record career took off, and he subsequently helped with the formation and development of Grant's Ice Record label.

1980s and after

Calder formed the Big Wave Group in 1988, in partnership with Bill Kimber, and had worldwide success with Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, who had three consecutive number 1 singles in the UK and throughout Europe and the Number 1 single in the US with "Swing the Mood".

In 1996, Calder co-wrote a biography of ABBA entitled Abba : The Name of the Game, with Andrew Oldham and Colin Irwin.[9]

In November 2002 Calder formed the licensing company Plan B Audio Ltd which represented a catalogue of world-wide master recordings. In December 2007, Calder was re-hired by Eddy Grant as business manager after Calder negotiated on a new production deal for Grant's Ice label with Mercury Records.[citation needed]

Personal life

His first marriage to Jennifer, one of the secretaries at Immediate, ended in divorce.

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.[11][2] He was survived by both children of his second marriage, daughter Georgie, son Anthony and also his stepdaughter, Harriet.[12]

References

  1. ISBN 9780753501498
    .
  2. ^ a b "Beatles promoter Tony Calder dies aged 74". The Guardian. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. ^ Savage, Mark (4 January 2018). "Tributes to Beatles promoter Tony Calder". Bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-09-928467-7
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-906032-26-5
    .
  6. ^ "Andrew Loog Oldham". NME. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Bay City Rollers". Nme.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  8. ISBN 1-58736-463-8
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0330346887
    .
  10. ^ "Tony Calder". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  11. ^ Lang, Jamie (3 January 2018). "Tony Calder, Music Promoter Who Worked With Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dies (Report)". Variety.com.
  12. ^ "Beatles promoter Tony Calder dies aged 74". The Guardian. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

Bibliography

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