ArtistInfo

Hy Weiss

1923-2007 US, Romania

A.k.a. Hyman Weiss

Born 12 February, Romania Died 20 March 2007, Englewood, New Jersey, USA Weiss moved with his parents to the Bronx, where he grew up and, after WW II, where he returned to work as a furrier and then a bouncer. During the mid 1940s Weiss then learned the art of shifting music product as a sales distributor for the Modern Records (2) and Exclusive labels, selling to record stores and later to jukebox owners. By the late 1940s the activities of Weiss were part of a New York music culture that had really began to heat up in a fusion of diverse styles and clubs, such as Morris Levy's 'Birdland' and those of George Goldner, which sprang up to cater to a fan base that would, in turn, provide a record-buying audience. To tap this market in the early 1950s Weiss and his brother Sam started the Parody label and recorded Danny Taylor, whilst also aiding distribution of Apollo Records (2) and Jubilee labels, helping in the success of The Orioles. In July 1953 Weiss intercepted The Five Crowns, who were about to audition elsewhere, and got them to record 'You Could Be My Love'. This was when the Weiss brothers moved into what appeared on paper to be a prestige Madison Avenue address at East 125th Street. It was in fact a small office in back of an old theatre, previously occupied by a duplicating company called Old Town Corporation. To cut corners, Weiss used this company's old stationery stock to launch The Five Crowns on his new label. Thus, Old Town Records was born. The label launched a history of popular artists, from R&B, blues and doo wop to pop. One of its first national hits was by The Fiestas. Weiss also began the distribution house Superior, which came to handle Argo Records, Cindy, Combo Records, Lamp, Coed, Tip-Top, End, Gone, Bullseye, Vee-Jay, and John Vincent's labels, such as and Ace. He created a publishing company called Maureen Music and initiated other labels, such as Whiz, Paradise Records (13) (on which he signed The Harptones) and Barry!- named after his son, who would later become president of the Zomba Label Group. Old Town also enjoyed some success in the UK. By the 1960s Weiss had begun to wind down his work with the label and briefly worked with Arthur Prysock (who had recorded for Old Town) at Stax before selling his publishing interests and Old Town, whose back catalog is featured on the label. Weiss died of natural causes, aged 84, leaving three children, four grandchildren and an indelible legend as one of the industry’s great original independent record men and entrepreneurs.

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