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ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company (then known as American Broadcasting-Paramount Theaters). ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H. Clark. Am-Par also established the Impulse! jazz label in 1961 and subsequently acquired a number of other labels before the entire division was sold to MCA Records in 1979.

History[link]

ABC-Paramount (full name "American Broadcasting-Paramount Theaters") -- the direct antecedent of the present-day American Broadcasting Company -- evolved from federal antitrust actions taken against the movie studios and broadcasting companies in the 1940s and early 1950s. As a result of a 1943 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) action against anti-competitive practices, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was forced to sell off its broadcast subsidiary the Blue Network, the sister network of NBC, and Blue was purchased by the American Broadcasting System, Inc. In 1953 American Broadcasting merged with United Paramount Theaters, the divested former exhibition/cinema division of Paramount Pictures. The newly merged corporation was chaired by former Paramount Theaters executive Leonard Goldenson and was originally headquartered at 1501 Broadway in New York City, above the Paramount Theater in Times Square.^[1]

In addition to producing records directly, ABC licensed finished masters from independent producers and purchased regionally-released records for national distribution. The corporate name of Am-Par Record Corporation was changed to ABC-Paramount Records, Inc. in 1962, and then to ABC Records, Inc. in 1967.

In 1965, Clark was promoted to vice-president in charge of AB-PT's non-broadcast operations and national sales manager Larry Newton was named ABC-Paramount president.^[2] The label was officially renamed ABC Records in 1966.^[3] They distributed Dunhill Records until this label was purchased under Newton to form ABC-Dunhill Records.^[4] They also distributed 20th Century Fox Records, Sire Records and UK-based Anchor Records. In 1970, ABC-Dunhill moved its headquarters to Los Angeles^[5] and Newton was promoted by ABC to vice-president in charge of ABC Pictures and Dunhill co-founder Jay Lasker was named president. Lasker left ABC to join Ariola America Records.^[6] In 1974, ABC switched British distribution from EMI to the EMI-distributed Anchor Records, allowing ABC recordings to be issued on the ABC label in the UK and Anchor records to be distributed by ABC on the Anchor label.^[7] As a cost cutting, but in retrospect ill-conceived move in the mid-1970s, ABC Records discarded their multitrack master tapes to save storage space. So when the affected recordings were reissued on compact discs in the 1980s and beyond, the CDs had to be mastered using the finished album masters which often had inferior sound.^[8] The record company's final president, Steve Diener, was named president in 1977 after serving as head of ABC Records' international division.^[9] Because the company was suffering financial problems, ABC Records was sold in 1979 to MCA Records, which discontinued the ABC label on March 5, 1979.^[10] The better selling albums in the ABC Records catalog were reissued on the MCA label.^[11]

Sub-labels and acquisitions[link]

ABC Records sub-labeled Apt Records to release singles. In the early 1960s, they purchased the Westminster Records classical music label. In 1961 ABC launched its new Impulse! Records label to record and distribute jazz. Under the guidance of the founding label manager Creed Taylor and his successor Bob Thiele, Impulse soon became famous for its innovative releases, most notably the string of groundbreaking albums recorded by John Coltrane between 1961 and his death in 1967. Several years later, Bluesway Records was created to distribute ABC's blues releases. Tangerine Records was formed by Ray Charles to produce not only his albums but artists produced by Charles, as well.

ABC Records purchased Dunhill Records in the summer of 1967, forming ABC Dunhill Records. They purchased Don Robey's record labels including Duke Records, Peacock Records, Back Beat Records and Song Bird Records on May 23, 1973. Afterwards, they also purchased the Famous Music record labels from Paramount Pictures' then-parent Gulf and Western in 1974 (these included Dot Records and Blue Thumb Records). With the Famous acquisition, ABC gained a distribution deal with Sire Records. ABC distributed (through Sire) the first releases by punk band the Ramones. Sire switched to Warner Bros. distribution in 1977, being sold to WB a year later.

In addition to sub-labels, ABC Records purchased all labels from Enoch Light in October, 1959. ABC acquired Audition Records, Command Performance Records, Colortone Records and Waldorf Music Hall Records.

In 1979, ABC Records was acquired by MCA Records for the sale price of $30 million.^[12] It briefly operated as a unit of MCA before it was dissolved and absorbed into MCA; MCA in turn would eventually be absorbed into the Universal Music Group.

This is not the same ABC Records that operates in Australia, which is run by national pubcaster the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (although the Ampar label was distributed in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s, first by W&G Records (1955–60) and then by Festival Records),^[13][14] nor is it the sublabel of Voiceprint Records.

ABC-Paramount/ABC Records label variations[link]

• 1955-1961—Black label, "ABC-PARAMOUNT" around top perimeter of label (in various colored letters for singles and all white letters for albums) and logo consisting of color spectrum Möbius strip and white jagged line. Bottom perimeter of label reads: "A PRODUCT OF AM-PAR RECORD CORP."
• 1961-1966—Same label as above, but disclaimer at bottom of label now reads: "A PRODUCT OF ABC-PARAMOUNT RECORDS, INC."
• 1966-1967—Label now shortened to ABC Records. Black label with large white circle at top with "abc" in black letters and the "color wave & jagged line" logo under the letters. This variant was used only for singles.
• 1967-1974—Black label with small white "abc" circle logo in color spectrum box at top (In conjunction with this label, a brief interim label was used from 1973-1974 consisting of three children's blocks spelling out ABC and one block with the "abc" logo in a white triangle at the top).
• 1974-1978—Yellow, orange, red and purple label with "abc Records" (black "abc" circle logo) between two black lines at top (Note: The other ABC labels would also adopt this label, such as Dunhill, Dot, Blue Thumb with its logo next to the "abc" logo, Impulse-The Impulse label had a green background rather than a yellow background, but the circles were the same, etc.)
• 1978-1979—Same multi-colored label as above, but with 1/8 note featuring "abc" inside the bottom of the note. Late pressings show "Mfg. & Dist. by MCA Distributing Corp..." at the bottom perimeter, just before the ABC label was discontinued and its artists transferred to MCA.

Types of output[link]

• Pop
• Country music
• Jazz
• Rhythm and blues
• Rock and roll
• Children's
• Ethnic music (including Irish)
• Polka
• Calypso
• Flamenco and Hawaiian
• Spoken Word
• Soundtrack album: Song of Norway and Cabaret (LP version only, the CD was reissued on MCA, later on UMG's Hip-O Records. The film soundtrack of Song of Norway has not yet appeared on CD.)

Artists associated with ABC Records and its labels[link]

Labels associated with ABC Records[link]

Management of ABC Records catalogue today[link]

The catalogues of ABC Records and its sublabels are now controlled by Universal Music Group with exceptions being the following:

• The Jim Croce catalog is controlled by his estate in conjunction with Saja Records and distributed primarily by Warner Music Group
• The Ray Charles catalog is controlled by Ray's estate and is also distributed by Warner Music Group through its Rhino Entertainment unit.
• The Amazing Rhythm Aces catalog is controlled by Sony Music Entertainment
• The recordings that former 5th Dimension members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. made for ABC are controlled by McCoo and Davis through their company BilMar Productions and currently distributed by Collectors Choice Music.
• Lawrence Welk acquired his Dot recordings (prior to ABC acquiring the label) which were reissued on his Ranwood Records label.^[15]

As for what Universal owns, the following labels manage various parts of the catalogue depending on the genre:

• Pop, rock, and R&B: Geffen Records
• Jazz: Impulse!/Verve Records
• Country: MCA Nashville Records
• Classical: Deutsche Grammophon Records
• Musical theater: Decca Broadway Records

In all five of these cases, the management also includes releases from other labels absorbed into ABC over the years. For example, MCA Nashville's catalogue includes country releases on Dot Records, and Deutsche Grammophon's catalogue includes the Westminster Records catalogue, as well as various soundtracks released by Dot and Paramount Records (among other labels) that consisted of orchestral arrangements.

See also[link]

• List of record labels

References[link]

External links[link]

• The ABC-Paramount Records story

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Leonard Charles "Lenny" Williams (born February 16, 1945, Little Rock, Arkansas)^[1] is an American singer known for his work in the R&B and soul music genres. During the 1970s, he was the lead vocalist for Tower of Power. As a soloist, he made several hit recordings, including 1977's Choosing You and 1978's Cause I Love You.

Early life and career[link]

Williams moved to Oakland, California at a young age. Learning to play the trumpet in elementary school fueled his interest in music; his skills as a vocalist were first nurtured by singing in gospel choirs and groups around the Bay Area. He worked with several notable artists, such as Sly Stone, Andraé Crouch, Billy Preston and members of the Hawkins family, Edwin, Walter and Tramaine.

Professional recordings[link]

After winning several local talent contests, Williams signed his first recording contract with Fantasy Records. He cut two singles for the label including "Lisa’s Gone" and "Feelin Blue", written by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. In 1972, Williams joined the emerging funk band Tower of Power. A string of hits followed, including "So Very Hard To Go", "Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of The Stream)" and "Luvin You", written by Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. During his two years with the group, Williams participated in three albums: Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal and the gold LP Tower Of Power. Williams and Tower of Power toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Solo works[link]

At the end of 1975, Williams returned to his solo projects. Initially signing with Motown Records in 1975, he later moved to ABC Records in 1977 (which was then purchased by MCA Records in 1979). Over the next four years. He scored ten chart hits, including “Shoo Doo FuFu Ooh”, "Choosing You”, “You Got Me Running”, “Love Hurt Me Love Healed Me”, and “Midnight Girl”. Williams recorded four more albums from 1977 to 1980: Choosing You, his first gold LP; Spark Of Love (contains Cause I Love You); Love Current; and Let’s Do It Today.

After leaving MCA, Williams recorded for the independent record labels, Rockshire and Knobhill. In 1986, he was invited to sing vocals on "Don't Make Me Wait For Love" a track from Duo Tones, a multi-platinum recording by Kenny G. The song became a Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 and R&B hit the following year.

His 1978 hit song "Cause I Love You" was sampled by Havoc of Mobb Deep for the track "Nothing Like Home", and by Kanye West for the songs "Overnight Celebrity" by Twista and "I Got A Love" by Jin. The track was sampled a fourth time in 2007 by Scarface for his single "Girl You Know" featuring Trey Songz & Young Jeezy sampled "Lets Talk It Over" for his single "I Do" featuring Jay-Z and Andre 3000

According to lennywilliams.com, over the past few years, Lenny has continued his solo career, touring the US, Europe and South Africa. He has recently shared stages with Aretha Franklin, The Whispers, Rick James, Boney James, Bobby Womack, Ohio Players, Al Green, Usher, K-Ci and JoJo, Alicia Keyes, Anthony Hamilton and Frankie Beverly and Maze. Lenny has also expanded his multi-dimensional career to include acting, starring in several stages plays "Love On Lay Away" starring Deborah Cox, actor Mel Jackson and Martha Wash. He also appeared in "What Men Don't Tell" starring Kenny Latimore, Shante Moore and Dottie Peoples the hit stage play "When A Woman's Fed Up". As an icon of the past and the present, Lenny Williams continues to expand his musical prowess and flex his newly found acting skills. He is sure to continue wowing his fans in the United States and beyond for decades to come. Lenny Williams is continuing to inspire the younger generation.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• 1974: Pray For The Lion (Warner Bros. Records)
• 1975: Rise Sleeping Beauty (Motown Records)
• 1977: Choosing You (ABC Records)
• 1978: Spark of Love (ABC Records)
• 1979: Love Current (MCA Records)
• 1980: Let's Do It Today (MCA Records)
• 1981: Taking Chances (MCA Records)
• 1984: Changing (Rocshire Records)
• 1986: New Episode (Knobhill Records)
• 1989: Layin' In Wait (K-Tel Records)
• 1996: Chill (Bellmark Records)
• 1996: Here's To The Lady (Universal Special Products)
• 2000: Love Therapy (Volt Records)
• 2004: My Way (Thump Records)
• 2007: It Must Be Love (LenTom Records)
• 2009: Unfinished Business (Lentom Records)

Compilation albums[link]

• 1993: Ooh Child (MCA Special Products)
• 2002: Ten Ways of Lovin' You (Volt Records)
• 2008: You Won My Heart (Crush Records)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• Artist profile at SoulWalking.com
• Lenny Williams at Allmusic

Heather MacRae (born October 5, 1946) is an American stage, film and television actress,^[1] perhaps best known for her role in the Woody Allen 1972 comedy film Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask).^[2]

She has also appeared in several television roles, including parts in Starsky and Hutch, Frasier, and The Sopranos^[3] and as the judge who marries Miranda and Steve in an outdoor ceremony on Sex and the City. In 1979, she appeared in a singing role in Robert Altman's film "A Perfect Couple".

A veteran of the Broadway stage, she has appeared in Hair, A Catered Affair, and Falsettos.^[4]

In 1979, she appeared in a singing role in Robert Altman's film "A Perfect Couple".

She is the daughter of actors Sheila MacRae and Gordon MacRae.^[1] She is the sister of the late Meredith MacRae who starred in the sitcom Petticoat Junction.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Heather MacRae at IMDB

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Lamont Dozier, 2009

Lamont Herbert Dozier (born June 16, 1941) is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.

Career[link]

Dozier is best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha & the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Isley Brothers. Along with Brian Holland, Dozier served as the team's musical arranger and producer. After H-D-H left Motown in 1967 to form the Invictus/Hot Wax labels, Dozier began recording as an artist on their labels. Dozier departed from H-D-H in the mid-1970s, and was replaced by new arranger/producer Harold Beatty.

Dozier had another #1 hit as a songwriter in the 1980s, combining with Phil Collins to write the song "Two Hearts" from the movie soundtrack for Buster. "Two Hearts" was nominated for an Oscar for Best Song. Collins and Dozier also co-wrote "Loco in Acapulco" for The Four Tops, which is also featured on the Buster soundtrack.

Also, in 1984, Essex-born singer Alison Moyet scored a US top 40 hit with the Dozier-penned "Invisible". In 1987, Dozier co-penned "Infidelity" with Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall for the band's second album Men and Women. The song reached number 13 on the UK charts.

In addition to his work as a songwriter and producer, Dozier has recorded a number of albums as a performer in his own right. Peddlin' Music On The Side (ABC Records, 1976) contained the epic "Going Back To My Roots", which was later recorded by Odyssey. "Black Bach" featured the country-flavored "All Cried Out." In 1981, Lamont scored a Beach Music hit with "Cool Me Out." He had his biggest hit with 1974's "Trying To Hold On To My Woman", which reached number 15 on the U.S. charts.

Throughout his recording career, Dozier has largely avoided the temptation to return to his catalog of Motown hits, preferring instead to record new material. In 2004, however, Dozier recorded several of his hits as part of the album Reflections Of... Dozier's new arrangements frequently provide an interesting counterpoint to the upbeat pop sound of the 1960s originals.

He, along with the Holland brothers, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.^[1]

In 2009, he worked on the music for the musical stage version of the movie "First Wives Club." ^[2] He is also teaching a course of popular music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Personal life[link]

Lamont is married to Barbara Dozier, and they have three children.

Singles discography[link]

The following singles featured Lamont Dozier as a performer
As a member of The Romeos:

• “Gone, Gone, Get Away” (1957); Fox 749
• “Moments To Remember You By” (1957); Fox 846

As a member of The Voice Masters:

• “Hope And Pray” (1959); Anna 101
• “Needed” (1959); Anna 102
• “In Love In Vain” (1960); Frisco 15235

As a member of Ty Hunter and The Voice Masters:

• “Orphan Boy” (1960); Anna 1114
• “Free” (1960); Anna 1123

As Lamont Anthony:

• “Popeye (The Sailor Man)” (1961) withdrawn, and replaced by "Benny The Skinny Man" (same backing track, new vocal); Anna 1125
• “Benny The Skinny Man” (1961); Anna 1125
• “Just To Be Loved” (1961); Checkmate 1001

As Lamont Dozier:

• “Dearest One” (1962); Mel-o-dy 102

As a member of Holland-Dozier (Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland):

• “What Goes Up Must Come Down” (1963); Motown 1045
• “Don't Leave Me” (1972); Invictus 9110
• “Why Can't We Be Lovers” (1972); Invictus 9125
• “Don't Leave Me Starvin' For Your Love” (1972); Invictus 9133
• “Slipping Away” (1973); Invictus 1253
• “If You Don't Wanta Be In My Life” (1973); Invictus 1254
• “You Took Me From A World Outside” (1973); Invictus 1258

As Lamont Dozier:

• “Trying To Hold On To My Woman” (1973); ABC 11407
• “Fish Ain't Bitin'” (1974); ABC 11438
• “Let Me Start Tonite” (1974); ABC 12044
• “All Cried Out” (1975); ABC 12076
• “Out Here On My Own” (1976); ABC 12234
• “Sight For Sore Eyes” (1977); Warner Brothers 8432
• “Boogie Business” (1979); Warner Brothers 8792
• “Cool Me Out” (1981); Columbia 02035
• “Too Little Too Long” (1981); Columbia 02238
• “Shout About It” (1982); M & M 502
• “Inside Seduction” (1991); Atlantic / Wea

Album discography[link]

• Out Here on My Own (1973); ABC 804
• Black Bach (1974); ABC 839
• Love & Beauty (1975); Invictus 33134
• Right There (1976); WB 2929
• Peddling Music on the Side (1977); WB 3039
• Bittersweet (1979); WB 3282
• Working on You (1981); Columbia 37129
• Lamont (1981); M&M 104
• Bigger Than Life (1983); UK Demon FIEND12
• Inside Seduction (1991); Atlantic 82228
• Reflections of Lamont Dozier (2004); Jam Right/Zebra 54633

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

Ruby Andrews (born March 12, 1947) is a Chicago-based American soul singer.

Her best known songs include "Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)" (1967), "You Made A Believer (Out Of Me)" (1969), and "Everybody Saw You" (1970).

Biography[link]

Born Barbara Jean Stackhouse^[1] in Hollandale, Mississippi, Andrews debuted on the Kelmac label (as Ruby Stackhouse) and soon after on Zodiac, label and scored her biggest seller, "Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)", in 1967.

A crossover hit, "Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)", went to number 9 in the R&B charts and number 51 in the pop charts. The song, co-written and produced by Joshie Jo Armstead, featured a typical Chicago-style mid-tempo lope, but was recorded and arranged by Mike Terry in Detroit.^[2] Some later reissues of the track used the (historically correct) spelling "Casanova".

Successful follow-ups on Zodiac included "You Made a Believer (Out of Me)" in 1969 and "Everybody Saw You" the next year. Andrews later cut some bluesy material for Ichiban, with producer Swamp Dogg.^[3]

Most of Andrews releases on the Chicago-based Zodiac label were produced and written by the team of Fred Bridges, Robert Eaton and Richard Knight, who previously were moderately successful as the vocal group Brothers Of Soul (of "I Guess That Don't Make Me A Loser" fame). Andrews evolved into a powerful vocalist on such aggressive stand-outs as "You Made A Believer (Out Of Me)" (number 18 in the R&B charts and number 96 in the pop charts in 1969), "Everybody Saw You" (number 34 in the R&B charts in 1970) and "You Ole Boo You".^[2]

Andrews is also the CEO of Genuine Ruby Records LLC.^[4]

Partial discography[link]

Chart singles[link]

Albums[link]

• Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)
• Kiss This
• Genuine Ruby
• Black Ruby

Compilations[link]

• Hip Shakin Mama
• Just Loving You
• Swamp Dogg Presents: The Boss Ladies of Soul

References[link]

1. ^ Ruby Andrews at SoulWalking.co.uk
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Ruby-Andrews.html
3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3549/biography
4. ^ http://www.myspace.com/rubyandrews
5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc.. p. 19. ISBN 0-89820-155-1. 
6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 11. 

External links[link]

• Ruby Andrews at Myspace