Biography

Music industry executive. Born November 16, 1942. Head of marketing and promotion for the Mercury and Epic record labels during the late 1960s-1970s in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Headed Monument in Nashville, 1974-1976. Appointed V. P. of Marketing for CBS Nashville, 1976. Promoted to V. P. and General Manager for CBS Nashville, 1980. Formed Venture Entertainment, 1987. Appointed head of Atlantic Records Nashville, 1989.

Interview Summary

1985 November 22
(42 minutes)
Producer Rick Blackburn draws upon his years of experience to talk about the different ways of measuring success in the country music industry. Discussion includes what it means to be successful selling records; the contemporary and traditional markets; different artists he has signed, including Ricky Skaggs, Chet Atkins, and John Conlee; his criteria for a crossover hit; what he takes into consideration when deciding to sign an artist; and his definition of country music.